Vince Carter has emotional reaction to being named 2024 Basketball Hall of Fame finalist: 'This is so surreal'

Vince Carter’s basketball journey began in Daytona Beach, Fla., and included stops in North Carolina, Toronto, New Jersey, Dallas, Phoenix and Atlanta, among many other places.

Four years after playing in his final NBA game, Carter’s next stop could be in Springfield, Mass.

On Feb. 16, 2024, it was announced that Carter was a finalist for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024, meaning Carter, who became Hall of Fame eligible this year, is in line to be a first-ballot selection.

In response to the news, Carter was overcome with emotion.

“Unbelievable,” Carter said of the honor. “You look in the crowd, you see Hall of Famers and the opportunity — you can’t beat that. It’s a proud moment. However this plays out, you can say ‘I had an opportunity.'”

.@MrVinceCarter15 speaks on what it means to be named a #24HoopClass finalist 👏 pic.twitter.com/K5GRM6S1B2

— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 16, 2024

Carter would go on to speak about his love of the game and how it served as the motivation for him to play a record 22 NBA seasons before retiring at the age of 43. An eight-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection, Carter is one of 25 players in league history to amass over 25,000 career points.

MORE: Debating Vince Carter’s standing among greatest Raptors of all time

While making brief acknowledgments, Carter thanked his mother for pushing him during his younger days before thanking his teammates from each step of his journey, specifically his high school teammates from Florida.

After the announcement became official, Carter took to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, to again express his emotions and gratitude.

“Mannnnn! Thank you to everyone who reached out to me this evening,” Carter wrote. “This is so surreal. (So) from me to you I say much love to you all.”

As a Hall of Fame finalist, Carter will now be put forward to the Honors Committee to be considered for election as a member of the Class of 2024. In addition to Carter, the list of 14 finalists also includes Seimone Augustus, Chauncey Billups, Michael Cooper and Walter Davis.