Photo Credit: Basketball Forever

Vince Carter Really Isn’t Your Typical NBA Veteran

This past summer, Vince Carter agreed to a one-year deal with the Atlanta Hawks!

Carter has already become an important veteran presence in a very young Atlanta locker room. Lottery pick Trae Young for example was born on September 19, 1998, three months after Carter had been drafted by the Golden State Warriors. 20 years later they’re teammates.

Vince is 41 years old, and he seems to be unbreakable. He even admitted, that his body feels better now, than it did when he was 25.

Unlike many of his veteran colleagues, the eight-time All Star’s mission isn’t, and has never been, ring-chasing. There are numerous succesful and unsuccesful examples of players who did try to chase a ring. Carter though, prefers to continue having a bigger role with a team, rather than playing only a few, or garbage time, minutes to win a ring. It is likely that Vince could have joined a contender for his veteran minimum. Most teams would be happy to have a guy like him on their roster.

“I can’t do that. That’s not who I am. I want to be a part of something. I want to play. It’s easy to play for a good team and sit there. It would be great to have the ring to accomplish it. Yes, I earned it because I am there every day making those guys better. I get all that. But I want to contribute. I’m not at the stage where I can sit there and be OK with it when I know I have something to give to this game still. That’s why. When things are different and I probably can’t play but 10 minutes a game or whatever, I can probably sit there and accept it. I can’t accept it now.”

Aside from all that, he’s still able to amaze the crowd and do this! 41 years old! Somebody better tell him. Vince Carter isn’t your average veteran!

Season 21 warm ups for Vince Carter! #TrueToAtlanta pic.twitter.com/KjWUKWX16a

— NBA (@NBA) October 29, 2018