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When Vince Carter Paid Tribute To Michael Jordan By Giving Him His All-Star Starting Spot In 2003

After 22 seasons, 25,728 points, 6606 rebounds, 4714 assists, 1530 steals and 888 blocks, Vince Carter is calling it a career – more or less voluntarily.

With the Atlanta Hawks not being among the 22 teams that will continue with the NBA season in Orlando, Vince Carter’s retirement came early, abrupt and undeservingly unspectacular.

The man who played in the league in four different decades, would have deserved a better ending to his career than what coronavirus has given him.

To at least give him somewhat of a great exit, we’ll be looking back on his incredible career and honor him with some of his greatest moments and stories. One of which is one of the greatest gestures of respect in league history.

In 2003, Jordan’s final season as an NBA player, Vince Carter was leading the league in All-Star votes. But before the All-Star Game tipped-off in Atlanta, Carter offered his starting spot to Jordan numerous times, before he finally accepted.

“I was the leading vote-getter, and I gave my starting position to MJ, which he declined multiple times throughout the day. So we go on and he accepts the starting position, he goes on and hits his historic fadeaway…”