The highly anticipated Vince Carter has been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The Nets legend was announced Saturday as one of 13 inductees into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Class of 2024.
The announcement was made at the men’s basketball Final Four in Glendale, Ariz., but Carter learned the life-changing call a few days earlier.
“First of all, when I got the call, I had to go outside so I could get some fresh air if I needed it,” Carter said on ESPN2. “But it’s just a journey in general, you know? You’ve been playing for 22 years and a lot of moments have happened that were very impactful and close to my heart. But it’s not like this… I’ve just been going through that process for years.
“Starting in high school, you just have a dream of going to the NBA. Once you get into the NBA, for me, the dream is to win the dunk contest or participate in the dunk contest and play as long as possible. Then, retire. Then you hear people saying they’re going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Personally, I was like, “Oh, I don’t really know, but I’d be happy if they would consider it.” And not only was I considered, I actually had the opportunity to walk through those doors. That’s unrealistic. ”
Carter, who told the Post he has never actually been inducted, will be inducted on Aug. 16 and 17, joining the Class of 2024, including Chauncey Billups.
He will join former Nets teammate Jason Kidd and his cousin Tracy McGrady in receiving the highest honor bestowed in sports.
“As Chauncey and everyone says, this is a real honor,” Carter told Final Four media during Saturday’s press conference in Arizona. “Growing up, you develop a love for the game of basketball. You want to be the best version of yourself every day, on and off the court.
“I’ve had a lot of heroes that have been on stage and been able to come here. And I have a Hall of Famer in my family, Tracy McGrady. So I watched it and I heard about it. and hear your friends say, “Oh, you deserve to be in it.” Everything is fine until you get a call. Like all of you here, the reality is better than you imagined, and I’m just honored to be a part of this class. ”
Carter, known for his high-flying dunks that earned him the nickname “Vinsanity,” was an eight-time All-Star in 22 seasons from 1998 to 2020.
He is the only player in NBA history to play for 40 years.
Carter, who broadcast several games in Brooklyn on the YES Network this year, holds the Nets’ single-season franchise scoring record, as does Mark with the Toronto Raptors.
Of his 25,728 career points, 8,834 came over five seasons in a New Jersey uniform.
He was an iron man, missing only 11 games in those five seasons, and the Nets lost every one of them.
For Carter, this was the emotional culmination of his career.
“For me, it’s emotional because I’m so grateful for it,” Carter said. “And I think that’s where the emotion comes from from me, because I’ve played the game and I’ve been through it.” [people say] “Oh, of course I do.” But, until I got that phone call, reality was bliss for me. I thought, “Okay, that’s real.” Well, we’ve come this far. But I guess I just needed to hear it to believe it.
“And the gratitude I felt for the Hall of Fame was like my cousin who was watching T-Mac get into the Hall of Fame and I was like a proud cousin in 2017. It made me proud, My heart was racing at that time. So some of my friends are there who have seen me compete or competed against me for a very long time.
“So I thought, wow, what an honor for the elites that are there. I’m getting a chance to be a part of that too. I mean, it’s surreal.”
