Sir Charles in Charge
Fansided

Looking Back At Vince Carter’s Missed Championship Opportunities

By Tyree Morton

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
Nov 5, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Vince Carter (15) against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. The Grizzlies defeated the Suns 102-91. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Vince Carter (15) against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. The Grizzlies defeated the Suns 102-91. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

VC’s Last Stop?

Signing a three-year, $12.2 million deal in 2014, Vince Carter found himself in a good position. The Grizzlies usually make the playoffs and Carter came looking to add to their success.

In his first season as a Grizzly, Vince Carter only played 16.5 minutes per game but the team had a good year. Winning 55 games in the regular season, the Grizzlies were looking to continue their winning ways in the playoffs. They made it to the second round before being knocked off by the Golden State Warriors, the eventual 2015 NBA champions.

The 2015-16 season wasn’t what the Grizzlies wanted it to be. They won 13 fewer games, finishing 42-40. Vince Carter played around the same amount of minutes and averaged just .8 points more than the last season at 6.6. The Grizzlies barely made the playoffs and hit the road early losing 4-0 to the Spurs in the first round.

More from NBA News

Now in the 2016-17 season, the Grizzlies are off to a decent start and Vince Carter is playing great. Recently, Vince Carter became the oldest player in the last 30 seasons to score 20+ points off the bench. He also became the oldest player to score 20+ since Michael Jordan did it in April 2003. Carter is averaging 10 points this season and is averaging 15 over his last five games.

No one knows when Vince Carter will retire but he came to this Grizzlies franchise in hopes of finally capturing his first ring before he does. He signed with Memphis two seasons after they made the Western Conference Finals. Memphis is the 5th team that Vince Carter has been on that either made the conference finals or NBA finals at least two seasons before he got there.

This has happened with EVERY team he’s been on since he left Toronto. Those days for Memphis are most likely over at least for the next couple of years.

At the end of the 2016-17 season, Vince Carter’s contract will expire and he will become an unrestricted free agent. Whether he chooses to retire, stay in Memphis, or leave is confidential to the public.

He’ll be 40 by then so there isn’t much time left. It’s up to him to decide if he wants to go to a true contender or if a true contender is interested and there’s no doubt that they will be.

Must Read: NBA Rookie Report: The Under (And Over) Performers Thus Far

Vince Carter is a 7-time all-star, 6th all-time in 3-pt fg’s made (soon to be 5th), and has over 24,000 career points. He is one of the greatest players ever. Title or not, Vince Carter is on his way to the Hall of Fame.

Home/NBA News