End of an Era: NBA will miss Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki, and Dwyane Wade
This may be the last season for Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki, and Dwyane Wade
In the NBA, approximately 60 new players ply their trade via the NBA Rookie Draft. Every year, several veteran players call it quits. Some of those retirees disappear, without much fanfare, while others remind us of some of the greatest moments, in NBA history. This season, there are three such players. From great plays to NBA titles won, Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki, and Dwyane Wade have left us with a lifetime of unforgettable memories.
Vince Carter:
While he has not declared or announced retirement plans yet, Vince Carter is 41 years old and in his 21st season. A 6’6 small forward/shooting guard there is not much Vince Carter has not accomplished, in his NBA career. He has not won an NBA title, but his resume, of greatness, is long. He currently sits 22nd overall, on the all-time NBA scorers list, and isn’t far away from moving two or three spots higher, by the end of this season. He was a rookie of the year, in 1999, he has won the slam dunk contest in 2000, he is an Olympic gold medalist for the USA, at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and he is an 8 time NBA All-star. Perhaps his greatest accomplishments are related to his athleticism.
At the Sydney Olympics, Carter quite literally lept over a vertical 7’0 foot center, Frederic Weis, of France, for a dunk, off of a steal. Also, in 2000 at the NBA All-Star weekend, he dazzled and excited the crowd with some of the most jaw-dropping dunks, in the slam dunk contest, which he won. Many will remember the dunk where he hung from the rim elbow deep, his arm through the hoop. The man had hops and was dubbed “half man half amazing” during his time, with the Toronto Raptors.
During his 21-year career Cater has played for the Toronto Raptors, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and now the Atlanta Hawks. Carter’s highest scoring average was 27.6 per game, when he played, with the Toronto Raptors back, in 2000-2001. His career average is 17.7 points per game. He has made 11 appearances in the NBA Playoffs for five different teams playing in 88 games, with a playoff scoring average of 18.1 points per game. Vince Carter has had a splendid career even without an NBA title to brag about. He did single-handedly raise the profile of basketball, in Canada, so he has left a permanent positive mark, in the world, of basketball.