Vince Carter Receives His Flowers: Inside No. 15’s Legendary Nets Jersey Retirement Ceremony

An important part of life is giving people their flowers while they can still smell them, and for Vince Carter, his victory lap is just beginning.

A name always mentioned any time “Who is the best dunker of all time?” is asked, Carter made his unforgettable mark on the league with his immense talent, dazzling on-court presence, and culture-shifting moments. On Saturday (Jan. 25), a day before his 48th birthday, “Half Man, Half Amazing” was immortalized in Nets history by having his No. 15 raised to the rafters forever. 

The basketball legend is well-known for his run with the Toronto Raptors, with many fans crediting him for putting the team on the map. But he found a home with the New Jersey Nets in December 2004, and as he put it during his pre-game press conference, the team “gave him new life.” 

The interior of Barclays Center in Brooklyn was fully customized to honor VC, featuring large posters of his throwback SLAM Magazine cover, players and staff decked out in special edition gear, the number “15” plastered all over the court via flashing lights, and more. Additionally, the first 10,000 attendees received a one-of-a-kind Vince Carter bobblehead as a free souvenir and 8,834 people received a holographic collectable ticket. Needless to say, nearly every seat in the staple BK venue was filled on Saturday night. 

An endless sea of Vince’s day 1 fans, teammates, and family members were in the building for the occasion. On the jumbotron, clips of fellow elite athletes like Dominique Wilkins and Eli Manning were seen showering the man of the hour with praise. Arguably one of the biggest highlights of the night was the legendary Julius “Dr. J” Erving, one of Vince’s heroes, not only narrating the ceremony’s introduction video, but stepping to the podium to relay some everlasting words of encouragement. 

“How do you make a number famous? You make it yours, you have to give it meaning… Suddenly, alley oops had a new flair, celebrations had a new meaning. Jason Kidd once said, Vince could finish any pass, just throw it up there,” said the NBA titan.

“Big moment after big moment, Vince took 15 for a ride… so there’s only one thing left to do with 15, throw it up there. It’s time to hang it from the rafters.”

As for Carter’s speech, he kept it memorable but brief. He thanked his coaches and staff, his co-pilot Jason Kidd, other teammates, the fans, and his loved ones. At one point, an audience member shouted something we were all thinking: “One more dunk!” Vince laughed and swiftly replied, “Wrong shoes on,” before joking that he would have if there were a pair of 16’s near by. 

The Hall Of Famer concluded by sharing his hopes of being an inspiration for people who dare to dream. “This is for not only the players, but for every young kid, every athlete, every person. When this jersey goes up tonight, I want this to motivate you. I want you to feel like, ‘I can go out there and get it, I got to see it feel it, and I’ll do everything I can to be the best version of myself’ because of it. ‘Fifteen, Carter’ is going up there, but we’re going up there together. Thank you, Nets. Much love,” he said before throwing his papers in the air and walking off with the signature flare he always had on the court.

To say Vince Carter made his impact on the Nets is an understatement, as he helped lead the Nets to three playoff berths, including a pair of runs to the Eastern Conference Semifinals (2006 and 2007). During his five seasons (2004-09), he brought in the franchise’s third highest total points by any player (8,834) and holds the two highest-scoring seasons in the team’s NBA record books, including the only 2,000-point campaign (2,070 points in 2006-07).

But, how exactly did we get here? Luckily for fans who are in the mood to reminisce, the Brooklyn Nets crafted a special documentary that explains VC’s long, but rewarding journey. Titled From Daytona Beach To Brooklyn, the doc chronicles Vince’s love story with the sport from the day he first picked up a basketball, to NBA draft day, his present-day role calling Nets games, and everything in between. 

The film will be available on Feb. 11. Watch the trailer above and check out moments from the jersey retirement ceremony below.