Vince Carter is an ageless wonder.
Speaking to the press after the Memphis Grizzlies were swept by the San Antonio Spurs 4-0 in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, Carter made it clear he intends on coming back for another go-round next season, per Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal.
https://twitter.com/CAGrizBeat/status/724336170679808006
Carter is set to eclipse the 40-year mark next year. He’s already played in 17 seasons as a pro since being drafted No. 5 overall out of North Carolina in 1998 — two years after Kobe Bryant.
Carter averaged just under 17 minutes per game coming off the bench for the Grizzlies during the regular season. His minutes were increased during the first-round loss to the Spurs, mainly because of all the injuries suffered by Memphis leading up to the playoffs.
He averaged 6.6 points, just under one assist and 2.4 rebounds per contest this past year. Not much more should be expected next season for Carter. But his value to the Grizzlies cannot be defined by the stats he puts up.
With nearly two decades of experience dealing with on- and off-the-court issues, he’s an invaluable asset for the organization as it moves into the next season.