NBA legend Vince Carter opens up about the sacrifices behind his 22-year NBA career

NBA legend Vince Carter is widely recognized as one of the most durable players in league history, having played a record 22 seasons.

Carter is currently tied with NBA all-time leading scorer LeBron James for the most seasons played in league history. While that record will be broken when LeBron takes the court in the 2025–26 season, Carter’s legacy of longevity remains unmatched in many ways.

According to reports, the average NBA career lasts just 4.8 years, making Carter’s 22-season run—retiring at age 43—all the more extraordinary.

In a recent conversation with fellow NBA legend Dwyane Wade and the team at The Timeout, Carter reflected on the sacrifices he made to prolong his career.

“I had to sacrifice, and I knew what it took. I gave up the nightlife, I gave up drinking. If you want to play in your forties, you can’t do this, you can’t do that,” Carter said.

Vince Carter’s form was just different. https://t.co/s69uEGxG3A pic.twitter.com/XBFpiCxsPm

— NBA (@NBA) February 14, 2025

“And it became easy—it became second nature—because of my goal to keep playing. If I hung out, it had to be on a night before an off day. I left the game at 43 years old. My last game, I was 43, my guy.”

Carter was selected fifth overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 1998 NBA Draft but was immediately traded to the Toronto Raptors for the fourth overall pick, Antawn Jamison. Over the course of his career, he also suited up for the New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, and Atlanta Hawks.

He won NBA Rookie of the Year, became an eight-time All-Star, and delivered a legendary performance to win the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. With 1,541 games played, he ranks fourth on the NBA’s all-time appearances list.

Carter’s No. 15 jersey has been retired by both the Toronto Raptors and the Brooklyn Nets—a rare honor that reflects his lasting impact on the game.

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