NEW YORK — Vince Carter recalled an important lesson imparted by his mother when he was a freshman basketball player at Florida’s Mainland High School. When he couldn’t get his preferred jersey numbers—6, 12, or 23—she advised him, “Find a number and make it famous.” This advice has clearly paid off as Carter’s iconic No. 15 has now reached an impressive milestone, as it was retired by the Brooklyn Nets during a ceremony held at halftime of their game against the Miami Heat.
The retirement ceremony was attended by Carter’s family, former teammates from the Nets, ex-coach Lawrence Frank, team president Rod Thorn, and fellow Nets legends who also had their numbers retired, including Julius Erving, Bill Melchionni, and Buck Williams. In his heartfelt speech during the event, Carter expressed, “This is truly something my family and I will cherish forever. To be the seventh number to go up is insane. It is an honor to be up there with you gentlemen.” He added, “No. 15 Carter is going up there, but we’re going up there together.”
During the event, Carter sat alongside his childhood idol, Erving. He was also celebrated with congratulatory messages from notable figures such as former teammates Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson, as well as celebrities including Eli Manning, Queen Latifah, and rapper Fabolous. Notably, Carter’s number banner will hang right next to Kidd’s No. 5, reflecting the partnership that defined one of the most prosperous periods in Nets history. Carter acknowledged Kidd’s instrumental role in revitalizing his game after his trade from the Toronto Raptors in December 2004, saying, “There was new life… a guy who made the game easier for me.”
Although Carter played only 374 games with the Nets over a span of four seasons, he made a significant impact, holding the franchise record for the most points scored in a single season (2,070 in 2006-07), and ranking third in all-time points for the team with 8,834. Additionally, he is fourth in three-pointers made (638) and playoff points (701). During his tenure, Carter helped lead the Nets to the postseason three times and win two playoff series, although they ultimately fell to the Miami Heat in 2006 and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2007.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who was part of the Miami coaching staff during their 2006 championship run, reflected on Carter’s contributions to the Nets, stating, “During that era, they never were able to get over the top, so they’ll probably never be recognized the way they should have been. That was a damn good basketball team, and (Carter) was a massive part of it.”
After retiring in 2020 at the age of 43, Carter, who holds the NBA record for the most seasons played at 22 years, began his first season as a television analyst for the Nets. He was later inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024. Spoelstra remarked on Carter’s evolution as a player during his career, noting, “From just being a dunker to being an impossible player to guard… that’s really amazing. It speaks to the type of human being he is.”
Carter’s journey through the NBA continued for 11 seasons after he was traded to the Orlando Magic in 2009, playing for a total of eight teams. However, he reflected fondly on his days with the Nets, stating, “We had fun, but we understood when it was time to lock in. We hung out and actually enjoyed each other and played for each other, and that’s what made the game fun. I went out and did my job and had a darn good time doing it.”
