Veteran Vince Carter previously said on several occasions that the 2019/20 season will be his last in the NBA. And it appears that he will stay true to his word.
Carter’s Atlanta Hawks are not included in the NBA’s plan to resume the season in Orlando as they have one of the worst records in the league and don’t have chances to make the playoffs. This ultimately means that the 40-year-old forward ended the 2019/20 on March 11th against New York Knicks.
While Carter previously didn’t make any statements about his status, he decided to set the record straight on The Ringer’s Winging It With Vince Carter podcast on Wednesday.
“I’m officially finished playing basketball,” said Carter. “I’m officially done playing basketball professionally.”
Carter said that the abrupt end of the season ended up making it easier for him to face retirement.
“If there was any disappointment because of the season—any of that—it was kind of easier to put it aside and handle it that way,” he added. “It’s like, OK, it’s something bigger than my career … It’s unfortunate, but with the coronavirus taking people’s lives rapidly, that’s the big picture in my mind.”
Hawks also made the news official with a post on their social media.
Vince Carter, who was NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion in 2000, walks away as the NBA’s record holder in seasons played with 22. He is also the only player in the history of the league to play games on four different decades.
Over the course of his illustrious career, Carter played with eight different franchises, including Toronto Raptors, New Jersey Nets, and Dallas Mavericks. His career stats include averaging 17.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.
