Could Vince Carter Be a HoFer?

[PosImpos]

Now, obviously this won't happen because the Celtics are just too good (tongue in cheek, tongue in cheek), but here's a hypothetical:

Vince Carter comes up big in the next two rounds and leads his team to an NBA Championship.  He wins Finals MVP.

Does he become a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame?

Actually, I would say yes.  If you look at his career stats, they are very comparable to Paul Pierce's stats.  Indeed, they're practically identical.  The only major difference in their resumes is that Pierce has led his team to a title (although with a lot of help), and Vince hasn't had any significant post-season success.  With a title on his resume, and especially a Finals MVP, I'd say Vince would be considered a future HoFer.  To put it simply, if Pierce is considered a future inductee, under those circumstances Vince would have to be as well.

What do you think?

[Who]

Yes, I think so, if Vince can win a title or two with the Magic before he retires and play well on that stage then I think he is very likely to make the HoF.

[CelticsWhat35]

With or without a ring, Pierce has always been a superior player to Vince Carter.  Carter has just gotten more attention because he's flashier.  That being said, he has still had a very good career, and since the major knock is him being too soft and not being a winner, if he were to lead the Magic to a title and get the Finals MVP award, I think he'd be a pretty good pick as a HOFer.  Too bad for him that's not gonna happen.

[guava_wrench]

If the HOF is decided by fan voting, guaranteed he makes it.

[Hoops]

I think VC would have to be the MVP of both the Conf. Finals and the NBA Finals. Even then, I'm not sure that would be enough. But this seems very unlikely. He wasn't the MVP of his team during the regular season, nor during the 1st round, nor during the 2nd round of the playoffs. I can't imagine him stepping up now.

[Frezz]

Depends what you think a hall of famer should be. If you're strictly a numbers person, then yes he probably is. But alot of people go by the eye test, and if you've watched Vince Carter his whole career, have you ever really said to yourself "I'm watching a future hall of famer"? I know I sure haven't. Combine that with the fact that he's admitted that he's a quitter, I say no.

I think the Vince Carter baseball equvalent would be Mike Mussina, who I also don't think should be in the hall of fame.

[Surferdad]

Depends what you think a hall of famer should be. If you're strictly a numbers person, then yes he probably is. But alot of people go by the eye test, and if you've watched Vince Carter his whole career, have you ever really said to yourself "I'm watching a future hall of famer"? I know I sure haven't. Combine that with the fact that he's admitted that he's a quitter, I say no.

I think the Vince Carter baseball equvalent would be Mike Mussina, who I also don't think should be in the hall of fame.

Agreed.  He's not HOF material.  He doesn't play defense and he takes WHOLE SEASONS off.  Too full of himself and never known to be a game-winning clutch shot player.  If the Magic win the championship and VC is the Finals MVP, I will be shocked, but even then he's only a Finals MVP, not a HOFer.

[Roy Hobbs]

Vince has the numbers and the All-star appearances.  The only thing holding him back is the perception of his work ethic, character, etc.

If he wins a championship, and is seen as a key piece of that team, I don't think there's any way that voters keep him out.

[rav123]

If they win the title, he's a lock.

I think he'll get in anyway, on the strength of his numbers and his dunking. Work ethic is an issue, but I'm not sure if there are other on-the-brink HOFers who didn't get in on that basis, so not voting in Vince would technically set a precedent.

People fault him for attending his graduation on the morning of that Game 7, but doesn't everybody usually like to see ball-players taking their education seriously? (He graduated with honours as well)

[ibby]

My current problem with the Hall of Fame is that it is not reserved for transcendent players, only really good ones.  Since that is the case Vice Carter could absolutely be in the HoF especially if Orlando wins a title.  This is sad, because of his horrible tendency to fall apart and disapear.  I have him linked to --his cousin and former teammate-- Tracy McGrady as far as making the Hall of Fame.  Neither would surprise me, but I don't think they were really that transcendent after their first half-dozen years.

[Jon]

I gotta agree with Roy.  He has the numbers and resume to get in even if he doesn't win a title.  I think simply winning a title will lock it. 

[Who]

Vince's accomplishments

• In 12 years, only two All-NBA selections. One second team and one third team.
• Never in the top ten in MVP voting
• No real team success until this season. Never got out of the second round before and only got as far as the second round three times prior to this season.
• Only made the playoffs in half of his seasons.

I don't think Vince's individual accomplishments or team accomplishments are significant enough to make the HoF at this stage. He has some nice stats but not enough in those two key areas.

I think he needs a major boost (Championships) over the next couple of years to make it to the HoF.

[ibby]

Vince's accomplishments

• In 12 years, only two All-NBA selections. One second team and one third team.
• Never in the top ten in MVP voting
• No real team success until this season. Never got out of the second round before and only got as far as the second round three times prior to this season.
• Only made the playoffs in half of his seasons.

I don't think Vince's individual accomplishments or team accomplishments are significant enough to make the HoF at this stage. He has some nice stats but not enough in those two key areas.

I think he needs a major boost (Championships) over the next couple of years to make it to the HoF.

Well put.  Let's also not forget that he is considered to be "soft" and a "quitter".  People made a lot of LeBron=Carter comparisons during game 5, and it wasn't complimentary.

[PosImpos]

I tend to agree with Roy.

I think it's important for us to remember that many people probably had a similar perception of Paul Pierce as a career loser who could never carry his team to any really big wins on his own - that is, until he had an amazing run in the '08 playoffs.  We certainly didn't see him that way in Boston, but many people outside of Boston were probably much less in awe of him prior to '08.

I don't remember anybody calling Pierce a HoFer before he got the Finals MVP.

[fanofgreen]

This is a perfect example/scenario as to why the NBA as a league, needs to have its own separate HOF, aside from the one in Springfield.

The Basketball HOF in springfield to me, is for the Jordan's, the Bird's, the Wilt's, the Magic's, the Olajuwons, the Iverson's, the Barkley's, the Shaq's, etc.

The NBA needs to have its own HOF for guys like Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Grant Hill, Ben Wallace, Rip Hamilton, Stephon Marbury, Spreewell's, Shawn Kemp's,Antawn Jamison's, Shareef Abdur-Rahim's, guys like that,from all of the different era's.

Because, although these guys weren't/aren't mega-superstars and dont have their jersey's retired, they weren't just regualar players or the average NBA athlete, they all have or had meaningful career accomplishments, and their careers should not be forgotten.

So in my perfect world: Up to this day, right here and right now, Vince Carter is not a Springfield Basketball Hall of Famer. But he is a first-ballot sure fire NBA Hall of Famer.

and obviously if here were to go on a tear, and lead the Magic to the title, and win the Finals MVP, then i think he becomes a Springfield HOF'er.