Emotional Carter acknowledges contentious exit from Toronto as Raptors retire former star's jersey

TORONTO (AP) — An emotional Vince Carter acknowledged his contentious exit from Toronto as his No. 15 jersey became the first number retired by the Raptors in a halftime ceremony during Saturday’s game against Sacramento.

“It’s not just Carter 15 going up, it’s all of us going up,” Carter told fans before a banner with his name and number was lifted to the rafters. “The memories, however you view it, goes up tonight. I hope and pray we enjoy our jersey being retired forever together.”

Carter walked to center court to begin the ceremony and gestured with his hands to request cheers from the crowd, and then balled his fists and roared “Come on!” before saluting the response.

Former Toronto teammates Tracy McGrady, Antonio Davis, Kevin Willis, Charles Oakley, Morris Peterson, Dee Brown, Jerome Williams, Alvin Williams and Muggsy Bogues joined Carter, his family and Raptors president Masai Ujiri on the court for the ceremony.

“He taught us how to fly,” Ujiri said in introducing Carter to the cheering crowd.

Carter had to pause several times to control his emotions or dab at tears during a pregame press conference. At one point, speaking about his family, a tearful Carter beckoned his young son Vincent Jr. to join him at the podium for an embrace.

The only player in NBA history to play in four decades, Carter spent the first six-plus of his record 22 seasons with the Raptors. He was the 1999 Rookie of the Year in his first season and an All-Star and the Slam Dunk champion in his second, when Toronto made the playoffs for the first time.

Swept out of the first round by the Knicks in his first postseason, Carter and the Raptors returned to the playoffs the following spring and upset New York by winning Game 5 at Madison Square Garden.

Before Saturday’s game, Carter recalled that series victory as one of the best memories of his time in Toronto.

“Going through what (former Knicks coach) Mr. Jeff Van Gundy put me through with his defense, I was excited to have that opportunity to go against that defense again,” Carter said.

Carter is credited for impacting basketball across Canada, influencing a generation of future NBA players such as Tristan Thompson, former Raptors guard Cory Joseph and current Raptors forward Kelly Olynyk.

“The legacy is still growing,” Carter said. “This is the icing on the cake.”

Thompson was one of several players, including Stephen Curry and former Raptors Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, to record a congratulatory message for Carter in a video that played before the on-court ceremony.

“I wouldn’t be here without you,” Thompson said.

Early on in his Toronto tenure, Carter earned the nickname “Air Canada” for his high-flying dunks. As injuries mounted and his production declined, Carter faced criticism from fans for becoming less aggressive when he settled for jumpers rather than driving and drawing contact.

In December 2004, Carter was traded to the Nets for Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams, Aaron Williams and a pair of first-round draft picks. Mourning never played for Toronto.

For years, there was anger and animosity from Raptors fans toward Carter after he pushed to be traded out of Toronto.

A decade on from that deal, the relationship-mending began when Carter visited Toronto with the Memphis Grizzlies on Nov. 19, 2014. The Raptors, who were celebrating their 20th anniversary that season, honored Carter with a tribute video during a first-quarter timeout.

Speaking in the halftime ceremony, Carter called it “a day I’ll never forget.”

Although a few fans booed as the montage began that night, most of the sellout crowd of 19,800 soon stood and cheered. An emotional Carter raised his arms, tapped his heart and wiped tears from his eyes.

During his pregame press conference Carter was overcome with emotion again as he recalled watching that video almost a decade ago.

“It’s something about seeing those highlights in this building, because that’s where it was created,” he said.

Carter retired in 2020 at age 43. Last month, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Earlier Saturday, a mural of Carter was unveiled in downtown Toronto. In September, the Raptors unveiled a revitalized Vince Carter Court at a Toronto park.

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Former Toronto Raptors player Vince Carter reacts during his number retirement ceremony at halftime of an NBA basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Former Toronto Raptors player Vince Carter reacts during his number retirement ceremony at halftime of an NBA basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Former Toronto Raptors player Vince Carter reacts during his number retirement ceremony at halftime of an NBA basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Former Toronto Raptors player Vince Carter reacts during his number retirement ceremony at halftime of an NBA basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Former Toronto Raptors player Vince Carter reacts while hugging his mother, Michelle Carter, during his number retirement ceremony at halftime of an NBA basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Former Toronto Raptors player Vince Carter reacts while hugging his mother, Michelle Carter, during his number retirement ceremony at halftime of an NBA basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Former Toronto Raptors player Vince Carter hugs his son, Vince Carter Jr., after speaking to media ahead of his number retirement, before an NBA basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings at the Scotiabank arena in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Former Toronto Raptors player Vince Carter speaks to media ahead of his number retirement, before an NBA basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings at the Scotiabank arena in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Former Toronto Raptors player Vince Carter speaks to media ahead of his number retirement, before an NBA basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings at the Scotiabank arena in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Former Toronto Raptors player Vince Carter speaks to media ahead of his number retirement, before an NBA basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings at the Scotiabank arena in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Former Toronto Raptors player Vince Carter speaks to media ahead of his number retirement, before an NBA basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings at the Scotiabank arena in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Former Toronto Raptors player Vince Carter is consoled by his son, Vince Carter Jr. while overcome by emotion when speaking to media ahead of his number retirement, before an NBA basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings at the Scotiabank arena, in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Former Toronto Raptors player Vince Carter speaks to media ahead of his number retirement, before an NBA basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings at the Scotiabank arena in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Former Toronto Raptors player Vince Carter is consoled by his son, Vince Carter Jr. while overcome by emotion when speaking to media ahead of his number retirement before an NBA basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings at the Scotiabank arena in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Former Toronto Raptors player Vince Carter speaks to media ahead of his number retirement, before an NBA basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings at the Scotiabank arena in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Former Toronto Raptors player Vince Carter speaks to media ahead of his number retirement, before an NBA basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings at the Scotiabank arena in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Former Toronto Raptors player Vince Carter reacts during his number retirement ceremony at halftime of an NBA basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Former Toronto Raptors player Vince Carter reacts during his number retirement ceremony at halftime of an NBA basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Former Toronto Raptors player Vince Carter reacts during his number retirement ceremony at halftime of an NBA basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Former Toronto Raptors player Vince Carter reacts during his number retirement ceremony at halftime of an NBA basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Some personnel at a key U.S. military base in Qatar have been advised to evacuate by Wednesday evening, a U.S. official said. The decision came as a senior official in Iran brought up an earlier Iranian attack there.

The official, who spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive plans, described the move at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar as a precautionary measure. The official wouldn’t go into any further details about the move, including whether the evacuation was optional or mandatory, if it affected troops or civilian personnel, or the number of those advised to leave, citing the need for operational security.

In response, Qatar said Wednesday that such measures were being “undertaken in response to the current regional tensions.”

“The IMO reaffirms that the State of Qatar continues to implement all necessary measures to safeguard the security and safety of its citizens and residents as a top priority, including actions related to the protection of critical infrastructure and military facilities,” Qatar’s media office said in a post on X.

The Pentagon declined to comment on questions about the move.

It comes as anti-government protests in nearby Iran continue and President Donald Trump has said that he is willing to conduct military operations in the country if the government continues to retaliate against the protesters.

The base, which hosts thousands of U.S. service members, was targeted by Iran in June in retaliation for U.S. strikes on its nuclear facilities.

Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on the social platform X wrote “the #US President, who repeatedly talks about the futile aggression against #Iran’s nuclear facilities, would do well to also mention the destruction of the US base in #Al-Udeid by Iranian missiles.”

“It would certainly help create a real understanding of Iran’s will and ability to respond to any aggression,” he added.

Iranian and Qatari officials had spoken on Tuesday amid the deadly crackdown in Iran and America’s escalating threats to intervene if protesters are not spared.

Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, had a phone call with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s prime minister.

In a statement on X, Al Thani said that he “reaffirmed the State of Qatar’s backing of all de-escalation efforts, as well as peaceful solutions to enhance security and stability in the region.”

Iran’s decision in June to retaliate against U.S. strikes by targeting the sprawling desert facility outside Doha created a rare tension between the two maritime neighbors, with Qatari officials saying it caught them by surprise.

No American or Qatari personnel were harmed, the U.S. military’s Central Command said, noting that the two forces worked together to defend the base. A Qatari military officer said one of 19 missiles fired by Iran was not intercepted and hit the base, but the Republican U.S. president said in a social media post at the time that “hardly any damage was done.”

Amiri reported from New York.

FILE - President Donald Trump speaks with reporters aboard Air Force One at Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

FILE - U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks at the Al Udeid Air Base, May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

FILE - President Donald Trump, right, meets with Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani aboard Air Force One at Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

A woman cries as members of the Iranian community stage a rally in support of anti-government protests in Iran, outside the U.S. embassy in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)