Alongside Seimone Augustus, Michael Cooper, Doug Collins and other Hall of Fame members set to be inducted in 2024, Chauncey Billups And Vince Carter serve as headliners for the 2024 ceremony, whose presentation press conference took place yesterday.
The two punctuated their interventions by returning to the strong moments which marked their journey to the point of joining the Pantheon. For Vince Carter, it was what will remain as his first moment of glory in world vision, when he won the Slam Dunk Contest of All-Star Weekend 2000, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in history. The moment was all the stronger because apart from his rookie of the year title won in 1999, “Vinsanity” did not win anything in the NBA afterwards, either collectively or individually. However, it is not for lack of trying, “VC” being the player with the longest career in history with 22 seasons played!
A dunk contest that went down in history
Vince Carter has already recounted this moment of grace and the details which preceded it many times, between the road traffic and the rain which delayed his arrival on site, but above all the atmosphere which reigned in the Oakland room that day there, going so far as to transcend it to achieve a historic series of dunks.
“I looked into the stands and I was on another level in terms of excitement and excitement for that moment. I felt that the routine I had prepared the day before was not going to help me win. And I took my chance.”, he declared. “I just wanted to show the world my athleticism. I put things together, I secured my landings. I felt good in the evening. After the first dunk, I felt a lot of excitement and confidence, and from then on, I had no limits.”
This famous first dunk stunned the entire assembly, since Vince Carter took off to perform an inverted 360° complete with a windmill. This 360° thus became his trademark, an essential dunk that he placed every time he entered the court for warm-ups (without the windmill of course!).
“I tried, I practiced so many times and I was having trouble doing that dunk in practice”he recalled. “But my adrenaline was so high that I was like, ‘You know what? I think I can do it.” This is what happened. Kevin Garnett probably motivated me from afar, because I remember going on the field, receiving the ball and being nervous, with a little sweaty hands. I had just had surgery on my middle finger, and you can see in the images that my finger is protected. I would see all the guys I played with or against in college or in the pros, and the excitement on these superstars' faces for what I was going to do. So I said to myself, “Let’s put on a show.”
A chaotic journey that makes Chauncey Billups proud
The rest of his performance was of the same ilk, including a dunk from the free throw line, à la Julius Erving, and another tomar which remained in history, when he placed his entire forearm at inside the circle. Moments engraved in NBA history as the competition celebrates its 25th anniversary next February.
For Chauncey Billups, it was quite the opposite. No frills or spectacular flights, the leader was a scientist of the game and ended up finding his way thanks to his work, his efficiency and his regularity.
Before experiencing glory with the Pistons whom he led to the title against the Lakers of Kobe and Shaq in 2004, Chauncey Billups had to go through difficult times, with five team changes over his first five years in the NBA : Boston, Toronto, Denver, Minnesota and then Detroit, where he shone for almost seven years. His self-sacrifice, his resilience to reach the summits, this is what makes him proud today.
“This is my journey”he summarized. “Everyone is different. And I say it all the time, from the moment I was drafted to today, where I find myself on this stage, this weekend, it's been a difficult road for me. To be honest with you, there weren't many people on this path. Third draft pick, five teams in my first five years…I wasn't playing bad, it was just circumstance. But it’s clear that I wasn’t playing well enough, but that’s how it is, and I learned so much about myself throughout this process that transformed me.”
His work ended up paying off since he was also elected MVP of the Finals in 2004 and had the opportunity to play in a second NBA Final in a row, this time against the Spurs. A track record that Vince Carter would have gladly exchanged for a few dunks, even the most notable of his career.
