Retires after 22-year NBA career

league on a shortened season,” Carter said on the “Winging It” podcast. “So for me, it's just kind of a unique situation.”

Carter scored 25,728 points in his career, 19th-most in NBA history.

The Hawks quickly lauded Carter for what he's done, not just in two years with Atlanta but over the totality of his career.

“Throughout his historic 22year journey covering an unprecedented four different decades, his evolving career arc was perhaps like none other in league history — from Top 5 Draft Pick to Rookie of the Year to Slam Dunk Champion to superstar and eight-time AllStar to Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year and valuable role player,” the Hawks said in a statement.

Carter's last game was March 11, a contest the Hawks lost at home in overtime to the Knicks. By the time that game was winding down, the NBA already had announced that it was suspending the season at the conclusion of that night's play after Utah center Rudy Gobert became the first player in the league known to test positive for the coronavirus.

The moment was not lost on Atlanta fans, who chanted “We want Vince!” repeatedly with 19.5 seconds left in overtime and with the Knicks' victory clearly decided. Carter checked back into the game at that point, inbounded the ball to Trae Young, then trailed the play as the Hawks headed downcourt.

Young flipped the ball back to Carter, who took an uncontested 3-pointer. The shot went in, Carter threw his arms skyward, and the clock ran out on the game a few seconds later.

Carter was an eight-time All-Star selection, was rookie of the year in 1999, won the slam dunk contest in 2000 and helped USA Basketball win gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics — highlighted by his dunk over 7-foot-2 French center Frederic Weis — and the 2003 FIBA Americas tournament. He played college basketball for three years at North Carolina, starting his career there under Dean Smith, and Carter's retirement means there are no more Smithcoached players left in the NBA.