Report: Two Former Raptors to Be Inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame
Former Toronto Raptors guards Vince Carter and Chauncey Billups will reportedly be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame this year
Vince Carter is heading to Springfield.
The former Toronto Raptors legend will reportedly be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame this year with an announcement expected to come Saturday,Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Wednesday.
Carter spent seven seasons in Toronto where he became one of the league's foremost superstars thanks to his high-flying theatrics. His presence with the organization helped grow the sport of basketball across the country and solidified the Raptors as Canada's team in the NBA.
His time with the organization came to an ugly end in December 2004 when Toronto traded Carter to the New Jersey Nets in one of the worst trades in franchise history. The Raptors acquired Eric Williams, Aaron Williams, Alonzo Mourning, and two first-round draft picks from New Jersey for Carter who went on to lead the Nets to three straight playoff berths.
Carter bounced around the league following his time in New Jersey, spending time with Orlando, Phoenix, Dallas, Memphis, Sacramento, and eventually Atlanta before retiring in March 2020 just as the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown the NBA.
Despite the tumultuous end to his Raptors tenure, Carter has since become a fan-favorite in Toronto where he's regularly warmly received by Raptors fans. In February, he told FanDuel's Run it Back show that he'd like to enter the Hall of Fame wearing a Raptors jersey.
Carter will enter the Hall of Fame alongside Chauncey Billups who briefly played for the Raptors in 1998 where he appeared in 29 games for the organization.
