Vince Carter had a great career in the NBA that was full of memorable moments, including one involving league icon Michael Jordan.
During an episode of ESPN’s NBA Today show on Wednesday, Carter recalled how he tried to convince the 6-time NBA champion to take his starting spot in the 2003 NBA All-Star Game.
“During the All-Star break, the NBA kind of encouraged me, like 'hey, it's probably a good idea that MJ starts in his last game.' I mean, that was a no brainer for me, Carter said. “I remember walking into All-Star (weekend), you know how All-Star weekend is with all the festivities. It's just bananas, and MJ is in the back doing what he does and I walked in and said, 'hey MJ, it's your last All-Star game, and I think you're going to start.”
Then Carter continued, saying Jordan told then budding young guard that he should start because he "earned it."
“He said, 'no, you earned it.' I said 'no,no,no you didn’t hear me…you’re going to start because I didn’t want to get blackballed and have the NBA and the fans ask why me how he (Jordan) is not starting in his last game -- but MJ no you earned it.' I then tell MJ 'look here, I will walk to the back of the locker room during starting lineups…you’re gonna start. I’m not about to get blackballed.'"
Jordan did end up starting, and contributed to a back-and-forth affair between the East and West All-Stars. Down the wire, with the game close and less than a minute left to go in the fourth, the East had all but secured a victory, giving MJ a great farewell, but the late, great Kobe Bryant stepped up for the West to ruin Jordan’s final All-Star game.
“You see that patented Jordan fadeway hit over Shawn Marion, nothing but net. We tried our best, yelling to stop the game right there, I think there was like seven seconds left, and we were just like 'stop the game, stop the game.' Well, rest in peace to Kobe Bryant, but being Kobe Bryant, he wanted to win the game,” Carter said. “He grabs the ball after the timeout, gets fouled by Jermaine O’Neal, hits both free throws, and we lose.”
Here is the sequence of plays that Carter was referring to.
Kobe was able to send the game into a second overtime, ultimately winning the game 155-145. Just another story to confirm how competitive Kobe was, so much so he didn't cut one of his idols a break.
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