The NBA’s oldest player recently reached a deal to continue his career for at least one more year, but Vince Carter says he’s “90-something per cent” sure that the 2018/19 season with the Hawks will be his last in the NBA, as ESPN’s Ian Begley relays.
Speaking on a conference call for the Jr. NBA World Championships, Carter explained on Thursday that he’s not interested in chasing rings, which is why he opted to sign with the Hawks rather than a legit title contender. The 41-year-old said he’d rather compete for a regular rotation role than sit on the bench for one of the league’s top teams.
“I still want to play the game,” Carter said. “Whatever minutes are there, I want (them).”
Carter didn’t entirely rule out the possibility of joining a contending team next season if he feels he no longer has much left to contribute on the court and wants to simply serve as a mentor. However, he doesn’t consider that a likely scenario. “I think before that happens I’ll probably retire anyway,” Carter said.
Besides presenting a good opportunity for regular minutes, playing with the Hawks in Atlanta may also allow Carter to get a head start on his post-retirement plans, notes Begley. The veteran swingman said he intends to pursue a broadcasting career after his playing career is over — Atlanta is the home of the NBA on TNT studios.
Go get your ring Vince, you more than deserve it
With the Hawks…?
He shouldve signed in like houston/neworleans/toronto for a chance at a ring, i only named teams i thought could use him im sure there are some others
Should’ve? He’d average almost no significant minutes. I respect that he doesn’t want to be a bench piece ala swaggy p to get a ring even after all these years.
I respect him as well im just saying a lot of teams couldve used him as a good mentor and bench piece. + Couldve gotten a ring possibly. Not arguing just saying
NOLA as a mentor, the rest of the competitive teams dont have as big of a need in that dept.
Kudos to him for wanting to play & not falling for that sad ring chasing, that should be the important thing playing the game at whatever age. Real sad to see vets in contending teams playing like 5 minutes per game if they play at all, their careers deserve better than that. Keep it up Vince, hopefully more vets will follow your example & show your professionalism instead of been paid for not playing at all.
Why sign with the worst team in the league? I can see not signing with golden state but why not Toronto?
Do we know if they even offered him a deal?
“I still want to play the game,” Carter said. “Whatever minutes are there, I want (them).”
Winning a ring without actually playing is meaningless.
Why wait until next year? Rest up and play old timers 3 on 3