Depends. If he can win a championship and be a main factor with the Magic, I believe he is in. As much as people hated him towards the end of his run in Toronto, the guy really was someone that changed the game IMO. "Half Man Half Amazing" days were crazy when he dominated the dunk contest, and really energized the sport unlike a lot of people during the time. Even now days, without being as high flying, he has been able to use his hang time to make circus shots on quite a few occasions.
Honestly, I think he should be. I can see both sides, though. Statistically, he's just another "really good player" but not a legend. But on the other hand, he's revolutionized the game with his dunking. He's arguably the best dunker. Ever. It's a shame, really, that he never was too successful in the postseason.
Yeah definitely compared to some of the other players in the Hall, I have to put him in. I always wondered why he couldn't put it all together a bit more but oh well.
He's just short right now, I think. If he has a strong showing in the playoffs and helps lead his team to a championship (like Paul Pierce), then he'll be a HOFer.
You are insane then. Seriously if you saw the piece of shit team Carter had around him, you'd be impressed he did as well as he did, and was as efficient as he was offensively. The best center he ever had was like a 34 year old 6'9 Antonio Davis who had no hops anymore, had no helpside defensive presence, and on offense was basically a short range jump shooter that shot between 38-42% during his years. and that was the Raptor's best center, if that tells you anything. A 38-42% FG% short range jump shooting PF with little hops, was our best center. Then going to all-time greats like Eric Montross, Jelani McCoy, Robert Archibald, Mamadou N'Diaye, Michael Bradley, and Rafael Arauj. Then starting at PF, having a guy like Oakley (great for leadership), but could only give mediocre contributions on the court, also starting and playing 31-33 mpg and shooting 39%-43%. Seriously the Raptors couldn't sign anyone, and had a pretty terrible roster. Unfortunately the roster Carter got stuck with, he had no chance of winning a title, however Carter in his prime (with the Raptors) was imo one of the top 5 swingmen of this decade. (Lebron, Kobe, Carter, Wade, and TMac)
Right now, NO. But he certainly has the means (talent, and now the team, to do it) to be worthy to be a Hall of Famer.
Ehh, I don't think so. What has he done. Like it was said, he's just another really good player but I wouldn't say HOF
He had the tools to be the best player ever but he just didn't want it. That alone will keep him out barring Finals MVP or something.
He didn't have the most important tool of all ... mental toughness. I think Vince Carter will make it to the HOF at some point because of his popularity. The basketball HOF has always been a farce anyways. I could go either way on this debate, but my initial opinion was not yet. He's always been behind the elite pack of players throughout his career and he doesn't have the post season success to merit being selected to the HOF. He was an embarrassment in the Olympics and quit on his team. Then there's the "Wince" nickname he earned for milking injuries.
Vince is an asshole who quit after 7 years (and our media had ridiculous expectations), but some of you guys are blind, and only rate a player by post-season success not the roster around them. I'd guarantee if Kobe and Carter switched places for their career, that the Raptors would have looked similar in post-season success (I personally think they would have been worse), and Carter would have rings. I'd also bet that Kobe would demand a trade after 7 years of that crappy team. Kobe demanded a trade with LA anyway, even though he had a more talented squad than Carter ever had, a HOF coach, and GM that could actually get a big man better than Robert Archibald.
The Lakers in 06-07 with an injured Odom were super talented? Smush/Luke/Cook/Kwame/Vlad? They also played in a much better conference. You're blind if you ever thought he was on Kobe's level. Carter has never even been 1st team All-NBA. Sorry but, Carter was never the player Kobe was. He was a better dunker in the slam dunk contest and has a nice three point shot, but loses in every other aspect of the game. Dribbling ability, quickness, ability to draw free throws, defense, stamina, individual production. On par in-game dunkers, that's about it. It is also clear Kobe gave up numbers playing with Shaq, and just carried a roster less talented than Phil's Bulls.
Carter was beyond Kobe's level in pretty much everything, except maybe 3 point shooting his first season. Steals, blocks, agressiveness, FTs, passing ability, quickness, etc. lol, and I'm sure that Kobe would have won 8+ rings with Robert Archibald, Eric Montross, and Michael Bradley manhandling other centers night in and night out. Damn that Shaq, obviously one of the many scrubs that Kobe had to put up with.
Kobe has averaged 30 points per game (with all the beautiful passing/etc. of course ;]) since Shaq left, on ridiculous efficiency within the flow of an offense and during epic playoff runs. A Span of hundreds of games. Carter could never do that, he's not that prolific a #1 option. And I am the type of guy that thinks he will do very well on the Magic, and should be a Hall of Famer.
