Michael Jordan and his wife Yvette Prietto congratulated Vince Carter on Saturday night’s Hall of Fame tip-off celebration and awards gala. Carter will be enshrined tomorrow along with 12 other individuals like Chauncey Billups and Seimone Augustus for their contributions to basketball.
In a video uploaded by NBA on X, formerly known as Twitter, Carter greeted Jordan in the audience before the start of the night’s event. They shared a hug with MJ congratulating his fellow North Carolina Tar Heel great for getting inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Jordan’s wife, Yvette, was also there and greeted the 22-year NBA veteran, who introduced his three kids to the couple. Carter has a son and daughter, Vayle and Vince Jr. with his wife, Sondi, and a daughter named Kai Michelle from a previous relationship.
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In college, Vince Carter and Michael Jordan played for the North Carolina Tar Heels. Jordan won a national championship in 1982, while Carter was in Chapel Hill from 1995 to 1998, going to the Final Four twice.
Carter was drafted fifth overall in 1998 by the Golden State Warriors but was immediately traded to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for UNC teammate Antawn Jamison. He then became the first star for the Raptors, inspiring a generation of Canadian basketball players currently in the NBA.
The 47-year-old legend also played for the New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks. He played 22 years in the league, a record he will share with LeBron James once the 2024-25 season starts.
In addition to Vince Carter, the 2024 Hall of Fame class includes players Chauncey Billups, Michael Cooper, Walter Davis, Seimone Augustus, Dick Barnett and Michele Timms, coaches Bo Ryan, Charles Smith and Harley Redin, and contributors Doug Collins, Herb Simon and Jerry West.
The enshrinement ceremony is on Sunday in Springfield, Massachusetts. The event will start at 6 p.m. EST.
Vince Carter on how Michael Jordan and other NBA legends helped him in his career
In an article by the Toronto Star on Friday, Vince Carter explained how NBA legends such as Michael Jordan and Larry Bird helped him shape his career. Carter was influenced by them on so many levels, including veteran teammates who played with the greats when he was still a budding star in Toronto.
“I come in (and at) every locker was a veteran who played with a guy that is an icon in our game, and it helped,” Carter said. “(Helped) me understand and learn how to handle the stardom.
“I could go to each individual (teammate back then) and they can give me a story about Larry Bird, Reggie Miller … Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins. They can give me a story on how they handled it, or what mistakes they made, whatever the case. That helped.”
Carter was talking about Dee Brown, Mark Jackson, Charles Oakley and Kevin Willis, who played with Bird, Miller, Jordan and Wilkins, respectively.