The stage was nearly set. The Nets rolled out a crimson carpet for his or her visitor of honor simply exterior the Barclays Heart loading dock. Pictures of his biggest accomplishments throughout his 5 seasons with the franchise lined the corridor main into the interview room. “Hangtime, forever” was printed on a brick wall.
“Is this the playoffs?,” Carter questioned as he took his seat.
Carter mirrored on his life and profession with the New Jersey Nets for half-hour. He talked about enjoying with Jason Kidd, how they as soon as teamed up in a bowling league, how Kidd overthrew a lob of their first recreation collectively — on function — simply to check Carter’s limits.
“It’s one thing to tell somebody, yet sometimes you just gotta show them,” Carter stated. “And if you throw it, I’m going to try. I’m going to at least make an attempt. And I think that set the tone for some great years.”
The 47-year-old additionally admitted that his iconic dunk over Alonzo Mourning in 2005 was simply as particular in his personal thoughts, even right now.
“I remember more than anything glancing at the bench and my college teammate, Jeff McInnis, acting a fool over there,” Carter stated. “I had the mean mug face, and it felt so good, but inside, I was laughing.”
Carter averaged 23.6 factors, 5.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists throughout 14,157 minutes in a Nets uniform. He led the franchise to 3 playoff appearances from 2005-07, reached the Jap Convention semifinals twice, and made three straight All-Star appearances from 2005-07.
The Nets went 191-183 with Carter on the court docket. And whereas Carter and Kidd by no means introduced a championship dwelling to New Jersey, they led one of many extra profitable stretches in franchise historical past — and that’s why each of their numbers now dangle collectively within the rafters after Saturday’s ceremony.
“It was new life,” Carter stated. “The crazy thing about that is that I was criticized for it. It was strange because my role in Toronto was just, give me the ball. I can get you a bucket. I didn’t mind having to work hard to get a bucket. Then, when I got here, that’s all I knew. But then you have a guy who makes the game easier for you in Jason Kidd.”
Julius Erving’s No. 32 jersey has been retired in Nets lore for some time now. The Corridor of Fame ahead, who stared for the Nets from 1973-76, launched Carter into the Corridor of Fame again in October. Erving was at all times Carter’s idol, and now their jerseys are ceaselessly immortalized collectively in franchise historical past.
“I’m truly honored. Period,” Carter stated. “And now I get to go up beside you? God, it’s crazy.”
Initially Revealed: January 25, 2025 at 6:23 PM EST
