Looking Back At Vince Carter’s Missed Championship Opportunities

Apr 3, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Vince Carter (15) high fives a fan after a game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. The Orlando Magic won 119-107. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Vince Carter (15) high fives a fan after a game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. The Orlando Magic won 119-107. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
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May 4, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Vince Carter (25) shoots the ball over San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) in game seven of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. The Spurs won 119-96. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
May 4, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Vince Carter (25) shoots the ball over San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) in game seven of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. The Spurs won 119-96. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

VC Signs With Dallas

At this point Vince Carter is no longer a star player but still very good. In December 2011, he signed a three-year deal (one year guaranteed) with the Dallas Mavericks. He found himself alongside Jason Kidd once again, trying to renew the good times they had in New Jersey.

Carter’s first season in Dallas didn’t go as expected. They made the playoffs but lost in the first round to OKC. They didn’t have much time to work on chemistry because of the lockout.

The 2012-13 season was no better than the last, in fact it was worse. No playoff appearance for the Mavericks and this surely had Vince wondering if he made the right decision to come to Dallas.

Things got better in 2013-14 as they went on to win 49 games and placed 8th in the western conference.

They faced San Antonio in the first round, and boy was this a series. The series went to seven games, including five nail biters. In Game 3, Vince Carter hit the game-winning three-pointer with no time left on the clock.

This put them up 2-1 against the number one team in the conference, a real confidence booster. Eventually Dallas could not hold off the Spurs and ended up losing in seven.

Vince Carter came to Dallas one season after they won a ring hoping they would repeat or eventually win another as a contributor to the team. This did not happen and it was the 4th time Vince Carter came to a team that either made the Conference Finals or NBA Finals at least two seasons before he got to the team.