Raptors expected to confirm Carter plans
Raptors president and vice-chairman Masai Ujiri will also be on hand along with some current players and city officials.
The Toronto Raptors are expected to officially announce today that Vince Carter’s No. 15 will be the first jersey number retired by the NBA franchise.
Carter is set to attend an MLSE Foundation event this afternoon at the newly renovated Vince Carter Court in a park located in the city's northwest. Raptors president and vice-chairman Masai Ujiri, along with some current players and city officials, will also be present.
Reports earlier this week indicated that Canada’s only NBA team plans to honor Carter on November 2, when the Raptors face the Sacramento Kings at Scotiabank Arena.
In the lead-up to today’s event, the Raptors have displayed Carter’s iconic No. 15 jersey in prominent locations across Toronto, with fans spotting the tributes during their morning commutes.
Carter, an eight-time NBA All-Star, spent parts of seven seasons with the Raptors. He was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 1999 and claimed victory in the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest.
As the Raptors' first superstar, Carter is widely credited with elevating the team’s profile and sparking a passion for basketball throughout Canada. In 2001, he led the Raptors to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where they came close to defeating the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7, but Carter's buzzer-beater hit the rim and missed.
Carter requested a trade in 2004 and was sent to New Jersey in a mid-season deal that yielded little return for the Raptors. The Nets, now based in Brooklyn, are also planning to retire Carter’s number in January.
After a 22-season NBA career, Carter retired following the 2019-20 season. He will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame next month.
This year, the Raptors are celebrating their 30th anniversary as a franchise.
