Vince Carter reflects on evolving his game after shifting focus away from dunking: 'People suddenly saw a different basketball player in me'

Vince Carter earned the nickname "Air Canada" while playing for the Toronto Raptors, thanks to his amazing jumping skills and spectacular dunks. However, after performing these moves in so many games, his body started to feel the strain, resulting in a diagnosis of patellar tendonitis (Jumper's Knee).

In December 2015, V.C. shared his insights about this diagnosis in an interview with German media. When asked about long-term benefits, the former eight-time All-Star admitted there was a silver lining: it helped him become a "more complete player."

"Yes, I think that's fair to say. Although even in my early years, I often took a lot of outside shots, I was mostly defined by my dunks. Once those became less frequent, people suddenly saw a different basketball player in me. Sure, I shifted my game a bit more away from the paint and consequently took more shots," remarked Carter, per Spox.

Dunking dilemma

Just recently, Ja Morant, also known for his spectacular dunks, announced that he would limit his dunking in certain situations to avoid injuries. This choice has sparked conversations among fans and analysts alike, including Carter, who remarked that there are times when it needs to be done.

For "Air Canada" himself, the realization of the importance of protecting his body from the strain of dunking came a bit later in his NBA career. However, he soon understood this necessity after receiving the aforementioned diagnosis in January 2003.

"At first, I naturally educated myself about what it exactly was, how it happens, and what the consequences could be. After speaking in detail with several doctors, I realized that it was likely the result of overloading the knees. When you think about it today, it's not really surprising. You're constantly airborne during your jumps, and with every landing, the knees bear all the weight," explained the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion.

Vince's career-changing decision

Carter, selected fifth overall in the 1998 NBA Draft, faced a significant choice: continue to rely on his incredible athleticism, risking his career longevity, or adapt his playing style. Ultimately, the Florida native opted for the latter, feeling he had no other choice.

One key factor that aided the former 6'6" guard-forward was that he didn't need to completely change his game. "Reflecting on his early years of high-flying dunks, Vince noted, "I didn't score exclusively with my dunks," hinting at a more diverse skill set.

V.C., therefore, already had the necessary tools to diversify his game, and he quickly made the necessary adjustments. As the Hall of Famer claimed, this decision proved to be the "right" one. As a reason for stating that, "Air Canada" remarked that although the diagnosis was 12 years before the interview, he was "still active in the NBA."

This continued until 2020 when the now-47-year-old eventually retired. With a joint-record of 22 seasons under his belt, Carter became one of the league's most enduring players, demonstrating that his patellar tendonitis diagnosis ultimately turned out to be a silver lining.