Vince Carter's No. 15 becomes the first retired number by the Toronto Raptors

On Saturday, Vince Carter became the first player in Toronto Raptors history to have his jersey number retired.

Carter's No. 15 made its way to the rafters at Scotiabank Arena during halftime of the Raptors contest against the Sacramento Kings. The former UNC basketball star was very emotional during the ceremony, especially as the banner, which features a picture of one of Carter's most memorable dunks, was raised into the sky.

The only player in NBA history to play in four different decades, Carter spent the first six-plus years of his record 22 seasons with the Raptors franchise. Part of one of the craziest NBA Draft trades, Carter was selected with the No. 5 overall pick in the 1998 draft by the Golden State Warriors. His time as a Warrior didn't last very long, as he was immediately traded to Toronto in exchange for Antawn Jamison, the No. 4 overall pick who was Carter's teammate at North Carolina.

While Jamison put together a very good career, I think it's safe to say the Raptors don't regret the trade by any means.

Carter won the 1999 Rookie of the Year Award and followed it up a year later by earning his first All-Star appearance (and winning the Slam Dunk contest title) in his second season in the pros. The Raptors benefitted from his early success, making their first ever playoff appearance that season.

While the end of his tenure in Toronto didn't end the way Raptors fans hoped it would, Carter is still an icon of the franchise. He helped grow the game not only within the United States but in Canada as well, as the legacy he built in Toronto is one that will last for a very long time.

After being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, this won't be Carter's only jersey retirement this season. The Brooklyn Nets (formerly the New Jersey Nets), will retire number 15 jersey in a ceremony on Saturday, January 25, 2025, making him the seventh player in franchise history to earn the honor.