The rise of Jersey No. 15 to the Scotiabank Arena rafters marked Vince Carter as the first person from the Toronto Raptors to get an honorary jersey retirement. While the venue captured the emotions of ‘Vinsanity,’ it hit online with appreciation from legends. One of them was Allen Iverson whose kind words, in particular, evoked a warm response from the 8x All-Star while stirring social media with the memory lane of a 2001 NBA playoff!

The phenomenal 7-game Semi-Final series of the Eastern Conference was invoked by the ex-Philadelphia 76ers star on Instagram with a photograph from the games where the two legends hug. “Congratulations Bro well deserved, Love you!” wrote the former shooting guard as a caption.

Friendly yet sparring, the game brought the two to their prime, kicking NBA fans out of a stupor following Michael Jordan’s gap. This gives a rationale for this din on the ex-Raptors’ reaction to Iverson. 

Vince Carter resonated this ‘bromance’ with an Instagram story: “Thank you my guy, it’s been a pleasure battling against you…love you bro!!!” As it sounds, the reference to this NBA rivalry has an air of mutual respect, as the game itself witnessed. So it would be great to travel back in time!

May 6, 2001, was the tip-off with Game 1 highlighted by players known for entertainment, especially given the 2000 Sydney Olympics dunk of Carter over 7’2″ Frederic Weis from France. As an NBA MVP, NBA All-Star Game MVP, NBA Scoring Champion, and NBA Steals leader for the year, ‘The Answer‘ also got to be promising.

With all eyes on the two, the brush-off had a series of 50’s on the loop which began with Iverson’s 54 points in Game 2 and a retaliatory 50 points made by Carter in Game 3. While the 50s got winded up by Iverson’s 52 on Game 5, the series got dragged into 7th Game where ‘Air Canada’ took the brunt of a failed winning shot. 

This failure, while being blamed on Carter for attending his graduation the same day, didn’t affect Carter-Iverson bonding as evident in these kind words extended by the 11x NBA All-Star on his mate’s special day. This gives a cue to explore their connection further. 

A camaraderie amidst feud

The 2000 All-Star Game saw the takes of these legends on each other with ‘Bubba Chuck‘ expressing pride in throwing the ball to Carter and the ‘Half Man, Half Amazing‘ enjoying the opportunity of playing with Iverson. The difference as they face off the very next year happens to be curious to watch. 

Many might agree that the playoff was competitive rather than filled with rivalry. Carter himself acknowledged this observation while responding to NBA.com on a Q&A on his experience playing against the 4x NBA scoring champion, “Going against him brought the best out of me. As far as that playoff series, it was probably one of the best in my career.”  

This was also reflected in his strategy as he goes on to say, “When he scored 54 going into Game 2, my response was that we couldn’t get too far behind on this team. Felt like the winner of that series could go to The Finals.” Fancy comparing this with other NBA feuds? 

An apt one could be the Shaquille O’Neal-Kobe Bryant feud within the same team, which is the Lakers. Regardless of the duo’s success, especially considering the Lakers win in the 2000 Season, led by their combined score of 79, against the Sacramento Kings, they eventually parted ways. This is when the Vince-Iverson feud turns out to be healthy competition among contemporaries. 

With the latest of these relationships unveiled with Iverson’s words, it is time for the NBA to showcase this comradeship for emulation.