Whether you ascribe to the one-year peak of Kawhi Leonard or the sustained excellence of Kyle Lowry as the greatest player in the history of the Toronto Raptors, the most magnetic player to ever suit up north of the border was Vince Carter.
Vinsanity exploded onto the scene for a Toronto franchise that was only a handful of seasons old, earning MVP votes as a rookie. He made the All-Star team every year he could in Toronto, led them to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, and his 23.4 points per game scoring average is the most for any Raptor who played multiple seasons for the franchise.
Yet for all of his skywalking and dunking and scoring, Carter did not end things well with the Raptors. He and the organization did not see eye-to-eye, and it spilled out into public comments until Carter ultimately demanded a trade out of Toronto. He cited a desire to compete for championships, stating that he did not "have time to wait two to four years for a team to mature." The Raptors had failed to put a contender around him, so he was pulling out.
The trade request came a few weeks before the season, but the Raptors at first declined trade offers and went into the season with Carter on the roster. He responded by mailing it in, averaging less than 16 points per game and passing up shots with regularity. He was not going to make it easy for Toronto to keep him.
Carter took things to another level
The allegations get particularly hairy where it pertains to a December 2024 game between the Raptors and the Seattle SuperSonics. The Raptors were drawing up a last-second play, and Vince Carter allegedly turned to the Seattle bench and told them the exact play they were going to run. Toronto proceeded to run that play, reportedly causing a number of Sonics bench players to excitedly point out that they just heard the call.
Ray Allen was the star of the Sonics at the time and told reporters that while he didn't hear Carter tip the play, his teammates did. Big man Reggie Evans played coy when asked about it, but didn't deny it. There is enough of a cloud of uncertainty around the situation that we may never know what happened for sure.
If Carter did tip the play, it certainly crossed the line. Basketball is a business for NBA players, yes, but it's also a brotherhood. To be so mad at ownership and the front office that you stab your teammates in the back is a step way too far.
The fact that the relationship had deteriorated to the point that this could be a possibility was the true red flag. Carter's days in Toronto were numbered, and just three days later, he was traded to the New Jersey Nets. The Raptors' first megastar was gone, and the team descended into a rebuild around young big man Chris Bosh.
Thankfully, Carter and the Raptors patched things up, and he was present to see his number retired by the franchise, an emotional moment for everyone involved. Things may not have ended well for Carter in Toronto, but he is still in place in the franchise pantheon.