The Toronto Raptors honored
franchise icon Vince Carter by retiring his No. 15 jersey at
Scotiabank Arena on Sunday night, cementing his legacy as the first
Raptor to have his number raised to the rafters. Known as “Air
Canada,” Carter’s gravity-defying dunks and electric style of play
captivated fans and helped put Toronto basketball on the
map.

Standing at 6-foot-6, Carter
spent over six seasons with the Raptors, where he won the NBA’s
Rookie of the Year award in 1999, made multiple All-Star
appearances, and became the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest champion. His
performances didn’t just win games—they inspired an entire nation
to embrace the sport.

“It’s not just Carter 15 going
up; it’s all of us going up,” Carter said to fans before the banner
rose to the rafters. “The memories, however you view it, go up
tonight. I hope and pray we enjoy our jersey being retired together
forever.”

Raptors President Masai Ujiri,
who introduced Carter to a roaring crowd, praised the impact Carter
left on Canadian basketball: “He taught us how to fly.”

Carter retired in 2020 after an
unprecedented 22-season career, making him the longest-tenured
player in NBA history. Just last month, he was enshrined in the
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, marking yet another
milestone in his storied journey.

In celebration of Carter’s
legacy, a mural was unveiled in downtown Toronto on Saturday,
adding to the previously revitalized Vince Carter Court, which the
Raptors dedicated in a Toronto park this September.