The Vince Carter Effect: How One Dunker Helped Change Basketball in Canada
Vince Carter gave a generation of young Canadian players something it had never seen before: an NBA superstar wearing their jersey.
Athletes World
• Toronto Raptors #15 Vince Carter shoots against Boston Celtics in basketball game action at the Fleet Center in Boston MA USA Mar 1, 2000.
• Licensed Photo: Bill Belknap / Alamy
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In February 2000, Vince Carter walked into the NBA Slam Dunk Contest wearing a Toronto Raptors jersey and put on one of the event's defining performances.
There was the 360-degree windmill. The between-the-legs dunk. The finish with his arm through the rim. Carter was already a rising star, but that night turned “Vinsanity” into something much bigger—and gave Canada's young NBA franchise a player basketball fans everywhere wanted to watch. (NBA)
For young Canadian players, the important part wasn't only that Carter was spectacular.
He was doing it for Toronto.
There was the 360-degree windmill. The between-the-legs dunk. The finish with his arm through the rim. Carter was already a rising star, but that night turned “Vinsanity” into something much bigger—and gave Canada's young NBA franchise a player basketball fans everywhere wanted to watch. (NBA)
For young Canadian players, the important part wasn't only that Carter was spectacular.
He was doing it for Toronto.
