data-mm-id=”_6ns758lbd”>Kawhi Leonard elevated the Toronto Raptors to the NBA's pinnacle by leading them to their first championship in 2019, but before the memorable title run, the franchise first soared with its original high-flying star.Vince Carter became the face of the Raptors during their early years after he was selected as the fifth overall pick in 1998 and acquired in a draft-day trade with the Golden State Warriors. He won Rookie of the Year in 1999 and quickly earned the nickname "Air Canada" for his electrifying dunks. RELATED: Does Derrick Rose belong in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame?The eight-time All-Star returned to Toronto on Friday to reopen refurbished Dixon Park basketball courts, which were originally built by Carter's Embassy of Hope foundation in 2003. During the ceremony, Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri announced that the team will retire Carter's No. 15 jersey this season."Our organization is retiring your jersey, yes, your jersey in Scotiabank Arena, and we do it with great pride and great honor," Ujiri said with Carter wiping away tears.Vince Carter was brought to tears when the #Raptors organization officially announced they were retiring his No. 15 jersey. pic.twitter.com/gbuur7osiI— Adam Laskaris (@adam_la2karis) September 27, 2024“I’m beyond words,” an emotional Carter said.“This is what I wanted more than anything because I had six crazy years here,” he added.Carter's time in Toronto came to an abrupt end when he was traded in December 2004 to the New Jersey Nets. Ujiri said time had eroded any bad feelings between franchise and its first star player."It doesn't matter what's happened. Time heals things," Ujiri said. "He took a young franchise to make those little baby steps that could get us to be a global spotlight."The Raptors will officially raise Carter's jersey to the rafters on Saturday, November 2, when they play host to the Sacramento Kings.MORE TOP STORIES From the Big LeadSPORTS MEDIA: NBA fans think they know why Zach Lowe is out at ESPNWNBA: How can Caitlin Clark get even better next season?ROUNDUP: Derrick Rose retires and so much moreNFL: What’s behind Kelce’s seemingly Swift decline?
Related Posts
Lille forward Nicolas Pepe has held talks with Liverpool, according to the Ligue 1 club s president Gerard Lopez.
Pepe, 24, has been linked with a move to the European champions after enjoying a fine 2018-19 season, scoring 23 goals in 41 games in all competitions.
Lopez confirmed the Ivory Coast international had spoken to the Premier League giants, who were yet to make contact with Lille.
I know there have been discussions with the player, not with us as a club, he told RMC Sport on Friday.
Liverpool have players in those positions and I read that maybe there were players who leave, or not.
I am not particularly focused on Liverpool, but it is true that there have been discussions with agents.
Lopez revealed Lille had received two of…
Arsenal have agreed personal terms with Germany international Shkodran Mustafi, the defender s agent has said.
The 24-year-old has been linked with the Gunners for a number of weeks and speculation over a move has intensified following the ankle injury suffered by centre-back Gabriel in the International Champions Cup win over Manchester City.
The player s representative, Ali Bulut, says Mustafi has agreed a deal with Arsene Wenger s side and that the club must now settle on a transfer fee with Valencia.
Shkodran and Arsenal have an agreement, he told Spox. Now the teams just need to agree on a transfer fee.
Mustafi, a World Cup-winner with Germany in 2014, has established himself as a key component of Valencia s first team since joining from Sampdoria…
Best odds: 23/20
Bookmaker:
Newcastle United are set to welcome Everton to St. James Park on Saturday afternoon in the 20th round of the 2019/20 Premier League season. Given the close proximity of the two teams in the league table, it is certainly a very important game as they both strive for a survival as comfortable as possible.
Newcastle
The Magpies have been somewhat of a team with two faces this term, and those are generally the hardest to predict in terms of a specific result or performance. For example, they totally outplayed and beat Manchester United at home earlier this season, only to fall completely to pieces against the same opposition at Old Trafford on Boxing Day and consider themselves lucky to have conceded just four. They are the team that los…
Prediction: Chelsea to win 2-0
Best Odds:
Bookmaker:
Fulham and Chelsea will face each other in the London derby this weekend. The Premier League game between the Cottagers and the Blues is scheduled to take place at 5:30pm UK time at Craven London on Saturday.
Fulham
Fulham are struggling at the moment and are in real danger of going down to the Premier League at the end of the season. The Cottagers are third from bottom in the standings with 12 points from 16 matches, two points behind 17th-placed Brighton and Hove Albion, who have played 18 games.
Scott Parker’s side will head into the match against Chelsea on the back of an encouraging 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur. The Premier League match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday ev…
Alex Ferguson has admitted that Manchester United have yet to broker a deal with Carlos Tevez s representatives over a permanent contract for the Argentinian striker.
The former West Ham star, whose two-year loan at United expires in June 2009, has been linked with a January move to Real Madrid following knee surgery that will rule Ruud van Nistelrooy out until next season.
Tevez has made it clear to United that he wants to stay at Old Trafford and wrap up a long-term deal, despite his recent inability to claim a starting spot in Ferguson s team.
United are due to pay Tevez s owners, MSI, 22 million pounds to seal a permanent move, on top of two payments of five million pounds to secure the player s signing on loan for this season and last.
But despi…
Stephan El Shaarawy s agent Roberto La Florio claims both Inter Milan and Barcelona were interested in signing his client.
The Italy international, 20, caught the interest of several big clubs with his performances on loan from Genoa at Padova in 2010/11, and joined Milan at the end of that season.
The player s agent has claimed his client could well have ended up at one of Europe s other heavyweight clubs had Milan not moved so quickly.
A lot of clubs were interested in signing Stephan at the time, La Florio told Rai.
Inter were keen to sign him, a number of Premier League sides wanted him, and Barcelona were after him too if I remember correctly.
Nevertheless, Milan acted quickly to snap him up before any other team made a move.
El S…
Anoine Griezmann Destined for greateness / Image via sportkeeda.com
France forward Antoine Griezmann has had a stellar season behind him both for club and country and a year in front of us is designated to be further success for Atletico Madrid star, who keeps grabbing headlines with his impressive performances and, of course, goals.
He’s been with Los Colchoneros since 2014 and under Diego Simeone he was transformed into a world-class forward, but what does the future hold for the 25-year-old?
Latest rumours, predictions and assessments have it that this will be his final season in Spain.
Devils’ Call
Merely two days after the summer transfer window closed, a Rumour Mill has started working again. Its perpetual motion is once again causing commotio…
OIdham Athletic chairman Simon Corney says there is an 80 per cent chance of the club signing convicted rapist Ched Evans.
Oldham s interest in Evans, who was released from prison in October after serving half of a five-year sentence, has prompted widespread condemnation, with over 65,000 people having signed a petition urging them to reconsider.
Sponsors have also terminated deals with the League One club in response to the planned signing, but Corney expects a deal to be announced in the coming days following a unanimous decision from Oldham s board.
In an interview with the Jewish Chronicle, Corney said: We believe he has served his time. There is an 80 per cent chance of us signing him. It won t be done today [Wednesday]. It’s not straightforward and…
Prediction: Arsenal to win 2-0
Best Odds:
Bookmaker:
Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal will face each other in the Premier League on Tuesday. The match is slated to kick off at the Molineux Stadium at 6pm UK time and promises to be an exciting game of football.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers are going through a tough spell. Nuno’s side are not winning matches and are also struggling to score, and there is a distinct possibility that they will not be able to challenge for the European places in the Premier League table this season.
The Wanderers will head into the match against Arsenal on the back of a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace away from home at Selhurst Park in London in the league. Wolves are now 14th in the Premier L…
As for the visitors, after surprising many and spending big during the summer transfer window, there is no doubt that Arsenal have their sights set on securing a Champions League return this season. Desperate to show some improvements after suffering a 4-1 hammering against Chelsea in May s Europa League final, Unai Emery s side have had to deal with an inconsistent run during pre-season. Throwing away a 1-0 lead at the Nou Camp and handed a 2-1 defeat by Barcelona in their final appearance of the summer, the Gunners have lost three of their last four contests and their only victory since the 20th of July came in a penalties victory over French outfit Angers SCO. Also suffering with some very worrying issues outside of North London last season, the former PSG boss will be looking for la…