NBA Hall of Famer set for two jersey retirements

Carter will become the first player in Toronto Raptors history to have his jersey retired when the Raptors host the Sacramento Kings, one of Carter’s eight NBA teams, on Nov. 2. That’s three weeks after Carter will be enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, headlining the class of 2024 along with players Walter Davis, Michael Cooper and one-time Raptor Chauncey Billups.

The announcement from Toronto comes days after one of Carter’s other teams, the Brooklyn Nets, announced they would also be retiring the eight-time All-Star’s jersey on Jan. 25. Carter played five seasons for the Nets, in New Jersey, after forcing a trade from the Raptors in 2004, making three All-Star teams and reaching the second round of the playoffs twice. His jersey will join his New Jersey teammate, Jason Kidd, in the rafters of the Barclays Center.

It’s the circumstances surrounding Carter’s exit from Toronto that made the Raptors’ decision somewhat unexpected. While Carter was the first star in Raptors history, and the history of NBA basketball in Canada in general, fans turned on the wildly-popular player when he forced a trade out of town, admitting he wasn’t trying and allegedly telling opponents Toronto’s plays on one occasion.

As a result of Carter’s sandbagging (and GM Rob Babcock’s bad decision), the Raptors got pennies on the dollar for their superstar — two first-round picks and some matching salary, including Alonzo Mourning, who refused to play for the team. Unhappy fans booed Carter relentlessly when his teams visited Toronto.

Things changed in 2014, when Carter’s Memphis Grizzlies visited. When a video of Carter’s highlights played on the scoreboard, initial booing turned into an arena-wide standing ovation that visibly affected the forward.

That moment seemed to open the door for Toronto fans to bury the hatchet with the former star, and eventually for the team to retire Carter’s jersey. There’s been no such groundswell for another Hall of Fame Raptor who bailed on the city, Chris Bosh, who was inducted to the Hall in 2021. But Bosh’s teams didn’t enjoy the same success as Carter’s, dropping a first-round series to Carter’s Nets in 2007 in one of their two playoff appearances.

Carter may be the first Raptor to have his jersey retired, but it seems like there’s certainly more to come. It’s very likely that longtime point guard Kyle Lowry sees his jersey up in the rafters after he finally retires. The same goes for DeMar DeRozan, who made four All-Star teams in his nine seasons in Toronto. Both have an excellent chance to make the Hall of Fame once their impressive careers are over as well.

It’s not just a sign of Carter’s greatness that he’s getting dual jersey retirements. It’s a sign of the forgiveness of his Canadian fans, who chose to celebrate the big shots and fearsome dunks of their first superstar over the bitterness of his departure. On Nov. 2, it should be nothing but cheers in Toronto.