Vince Carter has brought an end to his 22-year career in the NBA after officially announcing his retirement.
The 43-year-old made the big announcement on The Ringer’s “Winging It With Vince Carter” podcast.
He signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Hawks last year, which was supposed to see him call time on his career after the 2019-20 season.
However, the eight-time All Star has gone ahead to retire following a Coronavirus-enforced suspension of the NBA.
22 seasons & countless memories… thank you, @mrvincecarter15! #H15TORY pic.twitter.com/fww6UQhoLZ
— NBA (@NBA) June 25, 2020
Carter said while his decision to retire was tough, he had to look at the “bigger picture” following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“If there was any disappointment because of the season — any of that — it was kind of easier to put it aside and handle it that way,” he said.
“It’s like, OK, it’s something bigger than my career. … It’s unfortunate, but with the coronavirus taking people’s lives rapidly, that’s the big picture in my mind.
“So I was able to put the weird ending — the abrupt stoppage of play, to an ending — aside for the bigger picture.”
Carter is considered one of the greatest dunkers in NBA history and played for eight different teams, including the Raptors and Nets.
