Vince Carter, oldest player in the NBA, went into free agency and has been signed by the Atlanta Hawks for a one-year $2.4 million deal.
This year, Vince Carter will be playing in the 21st season of his NBA career. He has a total of 24,868 points throughout all the years.
When asked about the decision to sign Vince Carter, Travis Schlenk, the general manager of Atlanta, stated that he wanted to have Carter around as his influence is needed as they build a young roster. During the 2018 NBA draft, Atlanta was able to nab Trae Young during the first round, and added him into the team. Aside from this, they also have John Collins, from the 2017 first-round pick.
Carter, on the other hand, was drafted during the 1998 NBA Draft. This was in June 24, which is around 3 months before Young was born.
Though Carter is really the oldest player in the NBA, he brings with him a rich history, including being an eight-time All-Star. The Hawks will also be his eighth team in the NBA. Last season, he was with the Sacramento Kings, and averaged 5.4 points and was given a limited role.
He was most recognized during his time with the Toronto Raptors, where he helped the franchise rise throughout his six and a half seasons with the team. Then he moved on to play in New Jersey to play with the Nets.
According to the stats, Carter has had 228 different teammates over the course of his career. He is also one of the three active basketball stars who have played in the 1990s, including Jason Terry and Dirk Nowitzki.
When news broke about Vince Carter, fans took to social media about their thoughts. However, what struck fans the most was that Carter did not choose to sign with a championship contender, despite not having won an NBA championship. Signing with the Hawks, admittedly, gives him a slim chance of winning a championship compared to the other franchises he has played in.