If you mention Vince Carter to basketball fans, one thing springs to mind: dunks.

The Olympics "Dunk of Death" and the 2000 NBA Dunk Contest are top of mind 24 years later. The Tim Duncan poster still comes up today. And then, there's the Alonzo Mourning dunk.

"I took the dribble, and I'm looking up," Carter recalled to ESPN in 2018. "I'm like, wait a minute. [Alonzo's] standing there. He's not stepping forward. And then, all of a sudden, he steps forward—but it was already too late. I bite my lip ... I'm like, 'It's time to go.' And then, next thing I know, he falls down."

Carter's dunks were electrifying and high in volume. He mastered the mid-air freestyle, but he also knew when it was go-time.

More on "The Zo Dunk" in a bit. For now, let's remember that Carter's legacy goes beyond highlights. His impact across the league could be felt at the end of his career with impressive longevity and through becoming a mentor.

As Carter's former teammate Zach Randolph told Bleacher Report: "He always wanted to see everyone win. Having that chance to play with Vince Carter, I will be able to talk to my kids and tell my kids, 'I played with that guy.'

"He's one of the best to ever do it."

A Gem Early On 💎

Legendary coach Dean Smith was critical for Carter's development at the University of North Carolina.

Carter once told the Charlie Boots Show that Smith believed in the student-athlete life, not "athlete-student" and required players to sit in the first three rows of class and know their teachers' first and last names. If you didn't know them, Smith would get players running laps in the gym wearing weighted vests.

Coach Smith also valued things like defense and team-first play. It was with the Tar Heels where Carter learned the value of teamwork, discipline and playing a role within a system. And it was in the 1997 NCAA tournament where he led UNC to the Final Four.

That year, Carter averaged 15.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, showcasing his athleticism, scoring capabilities and length, putting him firmly on the NBA's radar.

'Energy, Enthusiasm' 🤩

VC's foray into the NBA resulted in the 1998 Rookie of the Year award after Carter averaged 18.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.

Former Raptors general manager Glen Grunwald, who orchestrated Carter's draft-day trade from Golden State to Toronto, told Bleacher Report that the 6'6" forward's predraft workout was the best he's ever seen.

"One of the criticisms of Vince when he was in the draft was that he wasn't a good enough shooter," Grunwald recalls. "He dispelled that immediately when he came in for a workout because he did show us tremendous shot-making ability and great touch, and good ball-handling skills."

Grunwald continued: "Carter walked in with energy, enthusiasm, and a charismatic personality. He had a willingness to come to Toronto. He saw it as a great opportunity for himself and was excited.

"All of those things really knocked my socks off as the evaluator."

Instant Takeoff 🚀

One of Carter's earliest defining moments for Grunwald was 1998 opening night. The Raptors beat the Boston Celtics 103-92, and Carter finished with 16 points in his debut.

"Vince was amazing," Grunwald says. "I remember a series of plays where he blocked two of Paul Pierce's shots at a key point in the game. He played with such athletic flair and intensity.

"I really think it changed the trajectory of our franchise from that point on. He inspired the rest of his teammates to believe in the team."

'The Primary Driver' for Improvement 📈

The Raptors were still figuring out how to move forward as a franchise and develop winning ways. But by the end of Carter's rookie season (a 50-game NBA lockout season), the team's record improved to 23-27, and by the end of 1999-00, the Raptors were a 45-win team.

All that after going just 16-66 the year before VC's arrival.

"Vince was the primary driver for that improvement," Grunwald says. "He was a likable person, he was open, not overly cocky—he was someone that his teammates liked and wanted to see him succeed with the team.

"It helped bring the group together. He made so many tremendous plays and game-winning shots. There's not just one game that was the highlight.

"His whole career was the highlight."

2000 Dunk Contest: Where 'Vinsanity' Was Born 🔟

Carter will tell you that every time he walks into Oakland Arena, he gets flashes of moments from that 2000 NBA Dunk Contest. Walking across the floor. Warming up. Looking at the crowd. The build-up to his 360 Windmill dunk.

Stepping back into that building is like rewatching the night play out in Carter's mind.

He'll also tell you, by the way: That's where "Vinsanity" all began.

'It's Over'

The 2000 contest is revered as one of the greatest in league history. Carter had his full array of weapons on display: The elbow dunk. A two-hand flush from just inside the foul line. East Bay Funk off the bounce from Tracy McGrady, his cousin, who was also dunking in the contest. THE 360-windmill.

"It's over" is now an iconic quote referencing the 2000 NBA Dunk Contest. The whole spectacle highlighted Carter's athleticism and creativity, but it also gave us a look at his flair and showmanship.

Overall, this goes down as a key Carter moment. The fact that it happened on such a big stage in front of so many big stars? That's only part of why we'll talk about it forever.

Inspiring a Generation 🍁

Watching Vince Carter on TV became the ignition that sparked a generation of Canadians.

Two-time MVP Steve Nash paved the way for Canadian fans, too. But it was Carter, who played with such energy, length and athleticism, who got fans in Toronto to watch Raptors games and inspired them to pick up a basketball.

"Canada has always had a great niche basketball culture," Nash told Bleacher Report. "But I think it just became a nationwide interest, in part, because of Vince and his talents."

As Nash puts it, VC's arrival created the perfect storm to grow Canadian basketball, coinciding with the arrival of the internet, the growth of AAU, increased immigration and coaching development.

"The electricity he brought to the TV screens or the arena every night," Nash says, "that's just invaluable for the growth of a sport in Canada—or anywhere."

Today, the next generation of Canadian hoopers might wear Shai-Gilgeous Alexander jerseys. Or RJ Barrett. Or Shaedon Sharpe. The choices are only increasing.

"I don't know how many Vince Carter jerseys will be going around," Nash adds with a nod to how many more options are available today. "The reason is because of how many terrific players have come from Canada that kids can watch on TV every night.

"He ignited a generation, and that ignited subsequent generations. His role in that ignition and continuum of the game is what I'm grateful for, and I think [it] can't be underestimated."

Putting Toronto and the Raptors On the Map 🇨🇦

It's easy to see why some Raptors fans are still disgruntled after Carter left the team in 2004 and was traded to the Nets. It was a lot to unpack then.

But placing a microscope on that moment would mean forgetting everything he achieved while wearing the No. 15 Raptors jersey.

'It Has To Be Accounted For'

Today, it's hard to ignore how VC became a franchise icon—a Hall of Fame icon now—which is why he's also getting his jersey retired in Toronto in November.

Many have said Carter put both the city and the ballclub on the map locally and globally. He averaged more than 20 points per game with the Raptors. He won playoff games off his own hand, made clutch shots, sank buzzer-beaters, performed under pressure and flew higher than the backboard.

"Vince was part of the ignition to get this whole thing started," Nash told B/R, "to spread the game, make it popular and to get (everything from) playing, coaching, participation, and viewership to grow.

"That's an untold impact that he's definitely had. I can't quantify it other than to say it's huge. It has to be accounted for and the impact of our game and growth in our country."

If that wasn't enough of a legacy, Carter's Embassy of Hope foundation built basketball courts at Dixon Park in Toronto in 2003, while he was still at the Raptors. It gave basketball back to the community, and it's a spot where anyone can play.

The 'Dunk of Death' 💀

Carter introduced the world to the "Dunk of Death" shortly into the second half of Team USA's 2000 Summer Olympics showdown with France.

France had the ball in the backcourt. Carter came through and intercepted a pass 30 feet from his own basket. He accelerated toward France's Frederic Weis, took off a step inside the foul line with his legs spread, and while floating mid-air, he sailed over Weis' head and into highlight reels forever.

The American bench jumped up. Fans in the stadium leapt to their feet.

"I knew he could jump, but I didn't know he could jump over me," Weis told ESPN. "Everybody will know my face now, or my number at least. It's going to be on a poster for sure."

After the game, Carter reflected on the dunk: "I don't do them for my enjoyment. I just do them because that's what happens."

Carter continued, revealing something about his mindset in the process: "I don't rank [my dunks]. I didn't think I was going to make it, actually. I took off from a long way away."

Team USA teammate Jason Kidd had his own take, courtesy of ESPN, saying: "For me, that was probably the greatest play in basketball I've ever seen. Michael Jordan hasn't done that. Nobody has done that. He's the next coming of Vince Carter."

Overall, the 2000 FIBA gold-medal run reaffirmed Carter's status as one of the NBA's elite players. Team USA went on an 8-0 winning streak in large part because of his 118 total points at 14.8 per game. He was the leading scorer ahead of NBA heavyweights Kevin Garnett, Kidd, Ray Allen and Gary Payton.

In the end, Carter helped lead Team USA to its 12th gold in 14 Olympic tournaments. In eight games, Team USA shot 42 percent from deep and 51 percent from the field, and it averaged just under 100 points per game.

'The Zo Dunk' 😤

On Nov. 7, 2005, Carter landed a statement dunk that rocked Alonzo Mourning and had everyone in the basketball world talking about that dunk.

Simply put: The dunk on Alonzo is pure art. And it went something like this:

Richard Jefferson ignites the play with a drive through the lane and a missed shot at the cup. The ball caroms off the rim—and fatefully off Mourning's fingertips. The Spalding bounces toward the elbow-extended three-point line, right where Carter is running back on defense. Instead, Carter seizes the loose ball, hitting Heat guard Jason Williams with a slick behind-the-back dribble mid-recovery. Carter attacks the rim with force. He cocks the ball behind his head with one hand, colliding mid-air with Alonzo. And then...he slams the ball through the net—and through one of the NBA's elite shot blockers of his era.

Depending on which sports program you were watching that at the time, you would have heard things like:

"Carter's got it. Carter drives...BIG finish!"

"Richard Jefferson can't get it over Zo...but someone ELSE can!"

Dominique Wilkins, two-time NBA dunk champion, told TNT, "Unfortunately. guys like Alonzo Mourning never get intimidated. He's just going to keep coming. But [the dunk] makes a statement. The fact [Alonzo] turned sideways made it a little special."

'Boom. Dunk. There It Was'

Carter has credited former Nets teammate Jason Collins for the dunk, saying Collins blocked Alonzo, clearing the path for him.

Bleacher Report spoke to Collins, who said Carter dunking on Alonzo was one of those moments he vividly remembers.

"I prided myself on being one of those guys to set an amazing screen. I knew that was my job. Get my guys open, and they would finish the play."

Collins continued: "When Vince got that loose ball, I just knew I had to screen Alonzo a little bit. I just needed him to have a bad takeoff spot to try to challenge Vince. And that's all I did.

"Then at the last moment making sure to get out of the way. Because I didn't want Vince to dunk on (both) me and Alonzo."

Carter has often referred to Alonzo's poster as one of his greatest.

"I was concentrating (on that dunk) more than any other dunk made in my life. I was like, 'This is going to go down in history,'" Carter told NBA TV on his 41st birthday.

VC continued: "Alonzo Mourning is one of the greatest shot blockers of all time. Floating up, I felt like everything just slowed down in slow motion, and I looked at the rim like, 'Boom. Dunk.'

"There it was."

The 50-Burger 🍔

If you're a fan, you've probably watched Game 3 of the 2001 Eastern Conference Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers a million times. And you still sit in awe of how it unfolded.

For the uninitiated, this was a statement playoff performance that put Carter in elite company—perhaps for the first time.

Looking back at this game, it came down to three areas where he delivered heavy blows to the 76ers:

• He scored 19 points in the first quarter, drawing fouls with aggressive driving to the rim. 
• He finished with 50 points on 55.4 percent from the field—remarkable given the pressure of playoff ball—including 5-of-8 from outside. 
• From the charity stripe, Carter shot 7-of-9, which not only helped maintain the Raptors' lead, it also slowed the game down during the final moments, taking away any momentum the 76ers needed.  

VC's iconic 50 points gave Toronto a critical win in the series against a 76ers squad led by 2001 NBA MVP Allen Iverson.

New Jersey's Human Highlight 🎥

Carter joined Jason Kidd and the New Jersey Nets in 2004 and went on to feature in four playoff campaigns during his time there.

Carter's Nets teammate Jason Collins told Bleacher Report that the pairing with Kidd made Carter even better and made it fun to play basketball in New Jersey.

"You saw Vince make a lot of highlight layups and dunks, high-difficulty shots. He would practice those," Collins said. "I saw one of the best trick-shot artists ever because of his athleticism in Vince Carter."

'Fun to Have Those Moments'

As it turned out, Collins, Carter and other teammates would stick around after practice to test out trick shots called "VC Layups"—a 360 layup in the air around a defender. Collins says he's seen LeBron complete one, and perhaps a few others. But Carter is one of a small handful who would use it in an actual game.

"In order to do those layups, you have to have the athleticism. A lot of us did not have that athleticism to go along with it," Collins recalls.

"It was fun to have those moments. Good times like those just added to the comradery of the team."

Work Ethic 💪

At some point in Carter's career, he was asked if he pushed himself as hard as he should have. He replied: "In years past, no. I was fortunate to have the talent. You get spoiled when you are able to do a lot of things. You see that you don't have to work at it."

That sparked media and fan interest in Carter's work ethic and raised questions about whether "Half-Man, Half-Amazing" was maxing out.

Carter has since defended the comments and said that he had people holding him accountable, especially early in his career, by a core of experienced veterans, including coach Butch Carter, Alvin Williams, Tracy McGrady and Charles Oakley.

"If I didn't have the work ethic, if I didn't love it..." Carter recently told Taylor Rooks, "...if I didn't have the correct approach over 22 years...22 years? I fooled people for 22 years? No way."

'Similar to Someone Like Steph Curry'

Jason Collins played with Carter on the Nets for four seasons. He says Carter's work ethic is something he tells players about at the clinics he now coaches.

What surprised Collins the most about Carter was how elite his athleticism was up close.

"Seeing how hard he worked on other aspects of his game, it's similar to someone like Steph Curry," he told B/R. "They work on those highlight-reel shots. It's not like they just show up in the game; they practiced those highlight shots because they want to make those plays and have that in their arsenal of shots to go to.

"A lot of people remember the dunks. I remember the big jump shots that he hit and the three-pointers. It wasn't just slam dunks."

The Journey From 'Starter' to 'Finisher' 🙌

In 2015, Mavs Moneyball created a list of Dirk Nowitzki's best Dallas Mavericks teammates since winning the 2011 championship. Carter ranked No. 2 on that list.

Part of the recognition came from Carter's willingness to adapt to any kind of role: bench rotation, outside shooter, forward in a starting role, fourth-string shooting option—and supporting other superstars like Dirk.

Carter knew when to accelerate and shine, but he also knew how to fit in.

"It's incredible—and somewhat sad, for Dirk's sake," Mavs Moneyball put it. "Carter, who turned 35 in his first season with the Mavericks, who was mostly seen as washed up, is the second-best player Dirk has played with since the title run. His longevity is a part of it, completing a three-year deal signed in the frantic post-lockout December. His consistency helped him, too."

'It's a Different Mentality'

The Carter-Nowitzki chemistry developed through their veteran lenses.

It brought together a mutual respect that helped create on-court balance where they relied on each other.

While Carter's role in Dallas varied—sometimes limited to bench minutes, sometimes given a license to take the big shots with the game on the line—he still found ways to impact games.

"It's a different role, it's a different mentality," Carter said in 2014 of coming off the bench. "As you're growing up, people in the world, in general, put so much into being the starter. I think everyone grows up saying 'I want to be a starter for my team' instead of being a finisher, being a closer. When you break it down to them they're like, 'Ah, yeah, that makes sense.' You could be a guy who starts and really doesn't play anymore the rest of the game."

'The Consummate Everything'

When Carter hit the winning corner three in Game 3 of the 2014 first-round playoff series against the Spurs, it became one of the most memorable shots in Mavs history.

The buzzer-beater put the Mavericks up 2-1, and, although they lost the series, it was another clip on the highlight reel for Carter.

Dallas coach Rick Carlisle called Carter's three years in Dallas "amazing" and added "he was the consummate everything—professional, teammate."

Carter played three seasons in Dallas before moving on to the Memphis Grizzlies.

'One of the Best to Ever Do It' 🐻

When Zach Randolph and Vince Carter became teammates in Memphis—and then again in Sacramento—both were respected veterans, having each carved out his own legacy.

Randolph, though, recalls absorbing "The Carter Way," watching him as a professional. VC treated basketball like a craft, and Randolph also looked at personality traits, like how Carter carried himself around people.

Randolph admits today that he noted what Carter ate back then and how he cared for his body late in his career.

"Vince don't really understand how much I used to watch him and learned so much from him," Randolph told B/R.

"He was one of the best to ever do it. The way he jumps. Seeing his athleticism. You'd think he's 24 (at the time). And when I was playing with him, I was like: 'Damn. He's doing all kinds of crazy stuff at practice.'"

'I've Seen His Impact' 👀

According to Randolph, Carter's defining traits were his leadership skills and his mentoring of the younger generation.

Where some veterans are waiting to punch the ticket on their careers, Carter was finding ways to play a role and share how he became an elite, professional basketball talent.

"I've seen his impact," Randolph recalled to B/R. "All the young guys, they'd wait at Vince's locker. And when practice started, they'd all be on the court talking to Vince, asking him questions."

'Young Guys Adapted to Vince'

Thinking about what Carter achieved—all the accolades he collected throughout his journey—Randolph looks at his time with Vince with a deep fondness, and he is in awe of how VC went about the craft.

"He always wanted to see everyone win. Having that chance to play with Vince Carter, I will talk to my kids, and tell my kids, I played with that guy. He's one of the best to ever do it."

Randolph continued: "I've seen how the young guys adapted to Vince. They're soaking up the knowledge. They want to know his stories, everything.

"He had so much knowledge to give in this game. The things he accomplished, you could see it.

"He had that type of aura."

Carter, the Mentor 🧐

In the twilight of his career, Carter devoted more time to mentoring, giving advice, and showing young rookies how to build professional lives as elite players.

He taught Kent Bazemore about the art of dunking and the science behind it. Jae Crowder spent time with him on the bench in Dallas, learning how to stay ready. Buddy Hield had a front-row seat to Carter's craft during his time in Sacramento.

Carter even inspired superstars like Kevin Durant to express themselves more on the court and to embrace their athletic traits just by being themselves in the moment. In an interview with ESPN's Rachel Nicols, Durant called Carter a unique player.

"I can't replicate that but the passion [from Vince Carter] that stood out to me when I watched him after he dunked, after he made a big shot and how much he loved to play. You could tell he was excited, and that just made me go out there and be just more free as a player when I was a kid," Durant said.

"I'm, like, if he can express himself like that, I think I can too."

Longevity ⏳

There's a stat that best sums up Carter's longevity and stake in the NBA.

Carter is the first player in history to play games spanning four decades: 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s.

To further put that into perspective, Carter was a rookie the same year as President Bill Clinton's impeachment. Yet, he's also the same guy who retired post-pandemic.

Here's Carter scoring his 25,000th career point. It happened as a member of the Hawks in 2018—on a dunk against the Raptors.

A Career Evolution 📊

Former Raptors general manager Glen Grunwald, as well as coaches who worked with Carter, noted that he was meticulous with his body early in his career and that he learned how to manage injuries at the highest level.

Carter adapted and evolved as needed, shifting from explosive bursts and high-flying acts to a catch-and-shoot role—and, as we saw late in his career, a mentor.

When thinking about Carter's ultimate legacy, fans will say it was his athleticism (read: incredible dunking gift) that tops the list.

But if it wasn't for Carter's longevity spanning four decades, he might not have become a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

The NBA Glue Guy 🤝

When Lloyd Pierce was head coach of the Atlanta Hawks, his team hosted a breakfast club once a month where players could speak on anything of interest to them. Carter requested to go last and to do it in Orlando late in the season.

On that day, the team bus drove everyone to Carter's Florida home, where they had shootaround. Everyone took a tour of the house, the pool and the music studio. Carter hosted breakfast on his home court, and then, he shared why his career had lasted so long.

"I thought it was a really transformational way of showing our young guys how to be a professional," Pierce told Bleacher Report. "It was really unique. He gave us a lot of anecdotes and stories. That's who Vince was. Vince was a guy who believed in himself. Who put in the work. Who stayed professional.

"And that court, that house was his example of what it looked like, and how he was able to have such longevity."

'By Example'

Pierce recruited Carter to the Hawks to help with the rebuilding young roster. The coach was surprised Carter chose to be a mentor with a young group when he could've chased a ring.

"The biggest thing for Vince, in addition to being a mentor," Pierce says, "was that the guy still could play (at a high level). He knew instantly the best way he could provide mentorship was by example.

"I knew instantly that was the way he was going to connect with a new generation of players, through his ability.

"To show them that he can still do it."

'Vince Adjusted His Game' 🎯

In Atlanta, John Collins and Kevin Huerter were just some of the young core that Carter helped develop. Pierce recalls Collins having one of his best years in Atlanta shooting the three—around 39 percent—which he attributes to Carter's mentoring.

"John is an extremely gifted athlete, as Vince once was and probably still is," Pierce said. "But Vince adjusted his game and spent a lot of time to help John understand that you can still do both—you can still be a gifted athlete, but you can also space the floor."

'The Best Athlete to Ever Play This Game'

When Pierce thinks of Carter's influence in Atlanta, he is immediately drawn to how humble Carter's leadership abilities were, given where the vet was in his career.

"In terms of leadership, [Carter] showed you how to do it the right way," he told B/R. "And he talked you through the process and what that looked like. And then, he demonstrated it."

Pierce continued: "I got to coach one of the greatest players to ever play this game—and by far the best athlete to ever play this game.

"But I think, more importantly, I got to coach a guy who showed me what a humble heart and what humble leadership looks like."

Pierce also shared: "When you look back, I think all of us can remember moments when you were in the presence of greatness—or one of your heroes you looked up to.

"Vince was that for us."

Hall of Fame Résumé 📝

It's easy to see why Carter belongs in the Hall of Fame.

Carter played 22 seasons with eight teams, and he averaged 16.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists across 1,541 regular-season games (No. 3 all-time).

Carter won Rookie of the Year in 1999. He took home an Olympic gold medal in 2000. He played in memorable postseason games for the New Jersey Nets and Dallas Mavericks.

The only thing Carter didn't collect was an NBA championship, but he made enough meaningful memories to last generations.

As an eight-time All-Star, VC also made the All-NBA Third Team once, the Second Team once and he sits No. 9 all-time in three-pointers made.

Collectively, he put together a résumé that not only lands him in the Hall but does so as a first-time nominee.