Vince Carter continues to challenge the strength of Father Time

Apr 15, 2017; San Antonio, TX, USA; Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard Vince Carter (15) dunks the ball against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2017; San Antonio, TX, USA; Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard Vince Carter (15) dunks the ball against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Vince Carter has been leaving us in awe for 19 seasons now and has rarely shown signs of slowing down. Not that he wants to

Every few years we, as the viewing audience, are given the true pleasure of watching an athlete so gifted that it doesnā€™t seem fair to label them as human beings. Not because itā€™d be unfair to compare ourselves to them, but because it seems too unfair for them to have to be recognized by the likes of us. Vince Carter is one of those athletes.

At 40 years old, Carter is still doing things people half his age could only dream of. Heā€™s not quite the athlete he once was, but that doesnā€™t mean Carter wants to slow down. In fact, itā€™s quite the opposite.

According to RealGM, Vince Carter wants to play another two years:

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"ā€œIā€™m still saying ā€˜two more years and Iā€™m done.'ā€"

While the days of Carter being an all-star are long gone, heā€™s adjusted quite well into his new identity as a role player. Only days following the end of his 19th season in the NBA, Carter averaged 8.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 0.8 steals.

He did so by starting the most games since the 2011-12 season, including six starts this postseason.

While neither analytics nor the eye test are necessarily favorable for the 40-year-old, you have to admit, itā€™s pretty awesome to watch ā€œOld Manā€ Vince Carter.

Nonetheless, thereā€™s still a question that one has to ask: can Vince Carter really last that long? Iā€™d have to say yes, and you should tooā€¦if not for your viewing pleasure, do it for the culture.

Regardless of how you feel about Carter playing at 40 years old, thereā€™s no denying his 19th season has been a cultural phenomena. His play isnā€™t nearly at the level it once was, but there have been select moments that remind you that he truly is half-man/half-amazing.

Not in the sense that what heā€™s done is at the same level it once was in terms of raw athleticism, but when you factor in his age, his highlights are just as impressive.

Take this dunk for instance:

That dunk happened during Game 1Ā of the Grizzliesā€™ opening series against the San Antonio Spurs, and it was vintage ā€˜Vinscanityā€™. At 40 years, 79 days of age, Vince Carter showed he still had hops with that beautiful transition slam, then followed it with his signature engine rev. Itā€™s everything we need to hope Vince signs a deal this offseason to comes back for another two years.

But if that wasnā€™t enough, then how about this reverse slam against the Milwaukee Bucks in early March:

Or maybe his recent pre-game activity:

Now tell me, can you honestly say you donā€™t want to watch Old Man Vince play another few years?

I donā€™t know about you, but I want Vince Carter to push it at least another three years. Not only because heā€™d crack the top-five ofĀ oldest players in NBA history, but because heā€™d also have a career that span four decades. The only question is with who heā€™d be playing for.

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Who knows, maybe the Nets sign him to close out his Hall of Fame career.