Atlanta Hawks Add Venerable Veteran Vince Carter

The Atlanta Hawks were looking for a veteran presence to add to their locker room, so they went out and got the most veteran player there is in the NBA in terms of age. Vince Carter, who will turn 42 next January, in the middle of the NBA season, has reportedly agreed to a one year deal with Atlanta. Carter is the oldest active player in the NBA, one of four who are over 40 (Manu Ginobili, Jason Terry, and Dirk Nowitzki are the others).

Carter began his career in the 1998-99 season with the Toronto Raptors. He’s also played for the Nets, Magic, Suns, Mavericks, Grizzlies, and Kings. He’s an eight time All Star (though not since 2007) and had his best years with the Raptors and Nets, when he averaged over 20 points per game for 11 straight seasons. Carter is the 22nd leading scorer all time in the NBA, with 24,868 points. His role has diminished over the years; last season he scored an average of 5.4 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in 17.7 minutes per game off the bench, in 58 games for Sacramento. One thing Carter has not done in the NBA, and is not likely to happen this year with Atlanta, is win an NBA title. Perhaps being a mentor to the younger Hawks as he winds down his playing career is a step towards coaching someday. He’s also a future Hall of Famer when his playing days are over.

Carter has quite a reputation in the art of slam dunks. Here he ranks his career Top 10: