When the Atlanta Hawks were excluded from the NBA’s 22-team return to play, the 42-year-old Vince Carter saw his career end. The future Hall-of-Famer made it clear throughout the year that this season – Carter’s 22nd in the NBA – would be his last.
Picked fifth overall back in June 1998, a few months before Trae Young was born, Vince spent seven years with the Toronto Raptors. Although his tumultuous exit from the team nearly ruined his relationship with the franchise and its fan base, Vince has been heralded “the Father of Candian Basketball” and was a key aspect of the Raptors’ franchise staying afloat in the late-nineties.