Carter speaks of legacy ahead of jersey retirement

Vince Carter hopes Toronto Raptors fans can embrace his complicated legacy with the team.

TORONTO – Vince Carter hopes Toronto Raptors fans can embrace his complicated legacy with the team.

Carter spoke about family, legacy, anger, and ultimately, love in an emotional news conference on Saturday ahead of his jersey being retired by the Raptors in a 20-minute ceremony during the intermission of Toronto’s game with the Sacramento Kings.

He reflected on his tumultuous relationship with the Raptors’ fan base during the news conference and acknowledged that the decision to make him the first player in team history to have his jersey retired was once inconceivable.

“That Carter 15 has been a lot of emotions for all of us,” he said on the concourse of Scotiabank Arena. “Your emotion being here is a proud moment or a cool moment or a wowing moment, but it’s still a moment and a feeling.

“I say all those feelings are splattered on that Carter 15 tonight and it’s going to sit in that arena — forever.”

Carter played the first six seasons of his NBA career with the Raptors before an acrimonious split with team management and fans in his seventh campaign led to him being traded midseason to the then-New Jersey Nets on Dec. 17, 2004. He said on Saturday that for a long time he never thought he’d be welcomed back by Toronto basketball fans.

“Have you seen me lately? I really don’t know what else to say. I feel like my emotions speak louder than words. It tells a story,” said Carter when asked about how it felt to be recognized by the Raptors after their fans roundly booed him for nearly a decade after the trade.

“It’s just appreciation for where we were, where we were getting to, and where we are now, and now you wrap that up with a bow, you know what I’m saying?