Vince Carter, who was the first mega superstar for the Toronto Raptors is being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts according to Brian Lewis of the New York Post on Wednesday. Carter, who was nicknamed Air Canada during his time in Toronto, played seven seasons with the Raptors from 1998 to 2005, before prolonging his NBA career with the New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks.
Carter was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1998-99. That season he averaged 18.3 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game, three assists per game, 1.5 blocks per game, 1.1 steals per game, with a field goal percentage of .465, three point percentage of .288, and free throw percentage of .761.
After his NBA Rookie of the Year honour, Carter was a NBA All-Star in his final six seasons with the Raptors from 2000 to 2005. In 403 games in Toronto overall, Carter averaged 23.4 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, 3.9 assists per game, 1.3 steals per game, and one block per game, with a field goal percentage of .446, three point percentage of .383 and a free throw percentage of .783. During his time in Toronto, he played small forward and shooting guard.
Meanwhile, Chauncey Billups was also inducted into the Hall of Fame. Even though he has his most notable seasons with the Detroit Pistons and Denver Nuggets, Billups did play part of the 1997-98 season in Toronto. He averaged 11.3 points per game, 3.3 assists per game, 2.7 rebounds per game, one steal per game, and had a field goal percentage of .349, three-point percentage of .316 and free throw percentage of .919 in 29 games playing point guard.
