Watch: Vince Carter and mother Michelle embrace in tears after Raptors star's jersey gets immortalized in the rafters
The Toronto Raptors retired Vince Carter's iconic No. 15 on Saturday night, making him the first player in franchise history to receive the honor. Carter shared a touching moment with his mother, Michelle, who was by his side when the Raptors unveiled his banner at the rafters of the Scotiabank Arena.
In a video uploaded by NBA on X, formerly known as Twitter, Carter could be seen embracing his mother during the ceremony. The Raptors held it at halftime with the Sacramento Kings, one of Vinsanity's former teams, in the building.
Michelle was very supportive of his son's dream of making it in the NBA. Carter was a standout at the University of North Carolina before entering the league as the fifth pick of the 1998 draft by the Golden State Warriors. He was traded to the Toronto Raptors on draft night for UNC teammate Antawan Jamison.
Vince Carter instantly became a hit with the Toronto Raptors due to his high-flying dunks. The Raptors also had success on the court, making the playoffs twice in 2000 and 2001, including a trip to the Eastern Conference semifinals in the latter year.
Carter was an All-Star from his second year in Toronto until his final season with the team in late 2004. Fans were not happy with him and were hostile whenever he returned as an opponent.
Things mellowed down during the 2014-15 NBA season when the Raptors decided to give Carter a tribute video. The fans, who once cheered and booed him, gave him a nice ovation. He had tears in his eyes as he waved to the crowd to show his appreciation.
The hatchet was officially buried when the Raptors announced in the offseason that they would be retiring Carter's No. 15 jersey. He is the first player in franchise history to receive the honor, which is a well-deserved one. He's also just coming off being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame last September.
Vince Carter opens up about reconnecting with the Raptors
Vince Carter told The Athletic how important it was for him to reconnect with the Toronto Raptors and their fans. Carter was not the most popular player in Canada after demanding a trade out of the Raptors in 2004. Things began to heal in 2014, and it was a full circle moment 20 years later.
"To be honest with you, this is what I wanted more than anything," Carter said. "I had six crazy years here, period. And for those who know me … you know my love. It’s just hard to articulate it."
Carter's family, including his mom, wife, two daughters and his stepfather, were in attendance at the Scotiabank Arena on Saturday. Many of his former Raptors teammates, such as cousin Tracy McGrady, as well as ex-team executives like Isiah Thomas and Glen Grunwald, were there to support him.