Image via Complex Original
With the fifth overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors selected Vince Carter from the University of North Carolina. On February 5, 1999, Carter made his NBA debut…with the Toronto Raptors. This is how the story of the man known as “Air Canada,” “Vinsanity,” and “Half-Man, Half-Amazing” began.
After he burst onto the scene with the Raptors, Vince Carter instantly became a household name. He took home Rookie of the Year honors in 1999, and he lit up arenas with high-flying aerial displays, which quickly earned him accolades as one of the most feared dunkers in the league. In 2000, he put the Association on his back and single-handedly made the Slam Dunk Contest relevant again.
From his first home in Toronto to his current residence in Memphis, VC has played for six different NBA teams and earned eight All-Star nods. He’s put Tim Duncan and Alonzo Mourning on posters, and he put USA basketball front and center with a dunk of epic proportions at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
Today, Vince Carter turns 38, and while he may not be quite at the level he once was, there’s still plenty of juice in Vinsanity’s tank. From his jam on Dikembe Mutombo to his rookie initiation of Jusuf Nurkic, check out our Year-by-Year Vince Carter Dunk Retrospective.
Written by Adam Silvers (@silversurfer103)
Vince Carter Introduces Himself to Dikembe Mutombo
Date: 3/4/1999
Game: Toronto Raptors v. Atlanta Hawks
Arena: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Ga.
Dikembe Mutombo made a career as one of the most prolific shot blockers in NBA history. But back in 1999, he came face-to-face with a high-flying youngster named Vince Carter, and there was only ever going to be one outcome in this battle.
“Le Dunk de la Mort”
Date: 9/25/2000
Game: USA v. France
Arena: The Dome, Sydney
Hailed by the French media as “The Dunk of Death,” this throw down from VC during the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney is widely regarded as one of the best dunks in the history of basketball. Frederic Weis was the unfortunate fellow under Carter, and we can only assume that this dunk still gives the Frenchman nightmares all these years later.
VC Puts Bo Outlaw on a Poster
Date: 1/2/2001
Game: Phoenix Suns v. Toronto Raptors
Arena: Air Canada Centre, Toronto
By the early 2000s, most knew who Vince Carter was, and were well aware of the high-flying aerial ability he possessed. Bo Outlaw, however, was evidently not in the know. If he had known about Vinsanity, perhaps he would’ve just started running down court before Carter took flight.
Tim Duncan Never Saw It Coming
Date: 11/1/2002
Game: Toronto Raptors v. San Antonio Spurs
Arena: SBC Center, San Antonio
For most of his career, Tim Duncan was the one putting on a clinic and making dudes look plain silly. But back in 2002, Vince Carter threw down one of the most prolific dunks of his career, and Tim Duncan happened to be the unfortunate soul to feel that wrath. Timmy’s face says it all, really.
Hey, Celtics, Air Canada is Now Boarding
Date: 2/28/2003
Game: Toronto Raptors v. Boston Celtics
Arena: FleetCenter, Boston
The Boston Celtics didn’t even bother trying to defend this dunk from Carter, because, well, they clearly watched highlights of VC putting dudes on a poster week in and week out. Maybe if all five defenders got on each other’s shoulders they might’ve had a chance at denying Carter.
Look Out Below, Washington
Date: 11/23/2004
Game: Toronto Raptors v. Washington Wizards
Arena: MCI Center, Washington D.C.
By 2004, Vince Carter was making it a nightly routine to bring fans out of their seats in amazement. This game against the Wizards was clearly no exception. That’s right, everyone, just get out of the way when the plane is on the runway.
Alonzo Mourning Was Never the Same
Date: 11/8/2005
Game: New Jersey Nets v. Miami Heat
Arena: American Airlines Arena, Miami
Believe it or not, Vince Carter got the better of Alonzo Mourning on several occasions throughout his career. But this jam on Zo back in 2005 was absolutely disgusting. Good god, Vinsanity actually goes backwards at the point of contact and is still able to throw it down with a hammer blow.
Kendrick Perkins Feels the Wrath of Vinsanity
Date: 11/29/2006
Game: New Jersey Nets v. Boston Celtics
Arena: TD Banknorth Garden, Boston
Add former Boston Celtics big man Kendrick Perkins to the list of folks Vince Carter has forever immortalized by putting them on a poster. We want to give props to Perk for trying, but, na, we just can’t.
Vince Carter Puts the Hornets on Blast
Date: 2/21/2007
Game: New Orleans Hornets v. New Jersey Nets
Arena: Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, N.J.
Back in 2007, Vince Carter had a game to remember. VC went off for 46 against the Hornets, and his best two of the night came on this mammoth jam in the fourth quarter. Just look at where Carter takes off from to throw this one down.
RIP, D.J. Mbenga
Date: 2/5/2008
Game: Los Angeles Lakers v. New Jersey Nets
Arena: Izod Center, East Rutherford, N.J.
D.J. Mbenga never stood a chance once Vince Carter made up his mind to take it to the rack. Lakers fans knew it wasn’t going to end well when Kobe was on the floor and VC was starting to gather takeoff speed.
VC Lets the Knicks Feel the Wind
Date: 3/8/2009
Game: New York Knicks v. New Jersey Nets
Arena: Izod Center, East Rutherford, N.J.
Oh, look, it’s the Knicks not playing defense for a change. SMH, Half-Man, Half-Amazing didn’t just slam on the Knicks, he went full windmill at the Izod Center.
Half-Man, Half-Amazing Rattles Amway Arena
Date: 2/21/2010
Game: Cleveland Cavaliers v. Orlando Magic
Arena: Amway Arena, Orlando, Fla.
More than a decade after he entered the Association, Vinsanity was still brining his best for the NBA Showcase. Don’t believe us? Just ask the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Vince Carter Reminds the Nets What They’re Missing
Date: 1/21/2011
Game: New Jersey Nets v. Phoenix Suns
Arena: US Airways Center, Phoenix
Steve Nash and Vince Carter both had a renaissance moment with this tremendous alley oop against the Nets. Channing Frye sets a neat little back screen, Nash throws one up, and VC does what he’s been doing since his days as a Tar Heel.
Vinsanity Throws Down a Reverse Jam on the Clips
Date: 2/3/2012
Game: Los Angeles Clippers v. Dallas Mavericks
Arena: American Airlines Center, Dallas
This is 2012, folks. Vince Carter is in his thirties at this point, and he’s still not only getting up, but throwing down with tremendous force. Undeterred by a little bump at the baseline, Carter collects himself, drives to the hoop, and gets a perfect 10 on the reverse jam.
VC Rings in the New Year With Authority
Date: 1/1/2013
Game: Dallas Mavericks v. Washington Wizards
Arena: Verizon Center, Washington D.C.
You know you’re doing big things when at the age of 36 you’re not just making ridiculous dunks look routine, but getting opposing fans out of their seats in disbelief. Long live Vince Carter, who is undoubtedly one of the greatest showmen the NBA has ever seen.
Vince Carter Leaves Tim Duncan With a Case of Déjà vu
Date: 1/8/2014
Game: Dallas Mavericks v. San Antonio Spurs
Arena: AT&T Center, San Antonio
Not again, Timmy. This time, Vince didn’t thrown down with quite as big an exclamation as his first posterization of Tim Duncan, but it’s amazing all the same. Carter pretty much lulls Duncan to sleep with a slow run-up, but he wakes him up like an alarm clock on blast at 5 in the morning. Don’t even give us that ‘turning back the clock’ garbage. VC never stopped ticking.
At 38, Vince Carter Still Manages to Amaze
Date: 1/3/2015
Game: Memphis Grizzlies v. Denver Nuggets
Arena: Pepsi Center, Denver
Just when you think Vince Carter is out of gas-although despite being 38, what signs has he really shown?-he pulls out a piece of magic from his bag of tricks. First, VC puts Wilson Chandler on a swivel with a silky crossover, then he makes rookie center Jusuf Nurkic wish he never left Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ladies and gentlemen, Vince Carter.