Everyone entering the NBA dreams of being as good as the player they consider the GOAT. And for many, the gold standard to achieve is set by the great Michael Jordan. However, as much as they want to be like him, they don’t want to be compared to him.
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That kind of comparison puts pressure on a player to become something they’re not. Some thrive in those situations, while others fade away. Vince Carter, for one, rose to the occasion and became a Hall of Famer, but he never truly enjoyed the constant comparison.
Carter was immediately compared to His Airness when he entered the NBA in 1998. And it made sense. Air Canada had a similar frame to Mike, a jumper that looked a lot like his, and he attacked the rim with the same kind of ferocity as the six-time champion. However, Carter started metamorphosing into his own man well after this pressure-filled comparison.
The Toronto Raptors legend won Rookie of the Year in 1998-99, and, by the time his career was done, had cemented his legacy too. Vince might not have any rings, but he’ll forever be remembered for the greatest slam dunk contest performance of all time.
When people speak the name Carter, they know it is associated with greatness. But the man himself feels he is yet to shed the Jordan skin. The eight-time All-Star recently joined a panel of basketball legends on the Backyard Podcast and joked about “not wanting the smoke” in terms of the MJ blanket.
“There’s this one name, and all of you know it. When they say, ‘He’s somewhat like MJ.’ I don’t want no problems. I want to be me. That came about, alright, this can be my own lane. Just keep doing what you’re doing. And here we are,” stated Carter.
For anyone, being mentioned in the same breath as Jordan would be an honor. But trying to build your legacy with that kind of load on your shoulders is no easy task.
In the end, Carter did come out the other side as his own man. The Ring Culture crowd may always label him as someone who fell short. But true fans of the game know he was one of a kind.
Carter has great admiration for Jordan
Carter never wanted the Jordan comparison smoke. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t view the Chicago Bulls icon as the basketball god that he is. In an old interview on the Run It Back podcast, he recalled introducing his kids to MJ at his Hall of Fame induction in 2024.
Carter was already laughing before the story even began, as a clip of him hugging Jordan played on screen. “Little man says to big sis, ‘Dad, he’s darker than I expected.’ I was like, ‘What’d you say?'” The hosts couldn’t help but burst into laughter too, thanks to the blunt honesty of Carter’s son.
“I was like, ‘Man, that’s why they call him black Jesus,'” added Carter, as if he was responding to his son. You can tell that having Jordan in attendance for his big night was very important to Carter. Why wouldn’t it be? If the GOAT shows up, it’s obvious he cares about you.
At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about: mutual respect. Forget the comparisons. Forget the accomplishments. The NBA is a brotherhood, and few know it better than these two.
