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Brooklyn Nets Great Will Have #15 Jersey Retired Next Season
Nigel Cook/News-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Brooklyn Nets might not have much going for them in terms of championships, but they’ve had a couple of outstanding players wear their uniform throughout their history. From Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to Jason Kidd and Julius Irving, the team has seen plenty of ballers despite not winning any Larry O’Brien trophies.

One of the most fascinating players who have played for the Nets is one Vince Carter. Though most still associate VC15 for his high-flying days with the Toronto Raptors, it was with the Nets that his reputation grew beyond the dunker that he became a household name for.

While his stint with the Nets during its time in New Jersey didn’t net him any rings, his contributions were significant enough that they decided to give him the ultimate honor an NBA franchise can give its favorites: the privilege to be the last one to wear their own jersey number.

Brooklyn Nets will retire Vince Carter’s #15 during the 2024-25 season

Vince Carter is among the 2024 class of inductees to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for the incredible career he’s managed to put up. While he didn’t win a ring with the Nets, he did make an impact as he transformed from a supremely talented dunker into a reliable all-around player who Jason Kidd could rely on.

The Spun’s Matt Hladik wrote about the Nets’ plans to honor Carter next season:

Carter will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this summer, and on Wednesday, the Brooklyn Nets announced they will be retiring Carter’s No. 15 during the 2024-25 season.

Carter, who was acquired via trade with the Toronto Raptors in December 2004, spent four-and-a-half seasons with the Nets when the franchise was still in New Jersey.

Carter spent five seasons with the Nets, averaging 23.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. He was the perfect running mate for Kidd despite them always falling short of expectations during his time there.

While he eventually moved on from the team, he didn’t leave them on bad terms. It’s good to see that the Nets organization still cares about Carter enough that they wouldn’t allow any other player to wear his jersey number in the future.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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