“My mom told me: ‘Find a number and make it famous,'” Vince Carter’s mom said and he did. And he did at the apex level by getting his jersey no. 15 retired by the Brooklyn Nets. Before you argue that the Toronto Raptors already did the honors, it was only after the Nets’ announcement that the Raptors reached the decision.

Clearly, his jersey retirement in Brooklyn and his tenure with the franchise hold a significant value of its own. So let’s have a closer look at the 8x All-Star’s legacy with the Nets.

A closer look at Vince Carter’s Brooklyn Nets stint

When the Nets acquired Carter from the Toronto Raptors in December 2004, fans couldn’t have imagined the fireworks that were about to follow. What a start he had, averaging an electrifying 27.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game in his first year. He wasn’t just playing basketball—he was putting on a show every night.

Over the next five seasons (2004–2009), Vinsanity became the face of the Nets, who were then playing at the IZOD Center in New Jersey under the name New Jersey Nets. Sharing the court with NBA greats like Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson, Carter elevated the team’s game. And let’s be honest, he made every game worth watching.

But let’s also talk about consistency. In each of his seasons with the Nets, Carter averaged over 20 points per game. That kind of performance didn’t just earn him respect from fans but also from his teammates. Richard Jefferson, one of his closest partners on the court, captured it best.

“Vince, you are a legend. This is well deserved. Congratulations on the Hall of Fame. And congratulations on having your jersey up in the rafters,” Jeff said on VC’s jersey retirement.

As a Net, Carter delivered big-time stats. 23.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per game over 374 appearances. He’s still third in the team’s history in total points (8,834) and holds the two highest-scoring seasons. More importantly, he led the team to three playoff runs, twice making it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Oh, and let’s not forget his 3 All-Star appearances in a Nets jersey.

Even today, Carter’s legacy resonates. When announcing his jersey retirement, Nets governor Joe Tsai summed it up perfectly. “We are thrilled to honor former Nets player Vince Carter, who contributed so much to this organization both on and off the court. He is an important part of the Nets franchise history. And we look forward to welcoming him to Barclays Center this season to celebrate his legacy.”

What Vince Carter feels on receiving the highest honor from the Nets

If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to have your name etched into history, Vince Carter during his jersey retirement ceremony would be a perfect example. His emotions were unmistakable, showing even before the ceremony officially began. During a news conference, a simple question about how his time with the Nets solidified his Hall of Fame career brought him to an emotional pause.

His watery eyes told the story before he even spoke. He couldn’t help but talk about his former teammate Jason Kidd and his former coach Lawrence Frank — two figures who shaped his journey with the franchise. The main night at Barclays Center, too, wasn’t just about a banner going up. It was about reflection, gratitude, and legacy. VC became the seventh player in Nets history to see his jersey ascend to the rafters, and you could feel the significance in every moment.

When Julius Erving, Vinsanity’s mentor and idol, narrated a tribute video and addressed the crowd, it was clear how much that connection meant. And when the chants of “VC” echoed throughout the arena, you couldn’t help but imagine Carter soaking it all in, perhaps reliving every dunk, every three-pointer, every roar from the crowd that shaped his time with the Nets.

“I’m so darn emotional these days,” Carter said with a laugh, trying to lighten the mood. “It pisses me off.”

But that emotion was a testament to how much this moment meant. Vince Carter shared how, as a player, he’d always look up at the banners hanging in arenas, imagining what it must feel like to join that exclusive club. When he joined the Nets two decades ago, seeing the jerseys of legends like Julius Erving and Charles Williams inspired him.

Now, Carter joins legends like Jason Kidd, Dražen Petrović, and others as part of the franchise’s storied legacy. He even joked about the future, imagining his son Vince bringing No. 15 out of retirement one day. Yep, that’s just how much love the 8x All-Star has for the franchise.