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Gilbert Arenas had some harsh words about Vince Carter earlier this season, claiming Carter should have been a GOAT-level player but was too lazy to put in the work. He doubled down on the statement when VladTV asked him about players who could have been the GOAT but didn't work after it, claiming Carter already hates him for saying that.
"Since he already hates me because I have already put it out there, it's Vince Carter."
Arenas elaborated on his statement, saying that Carter's skill set was so special that he should have achieved more. He also said Carter was too nice.
"I wouldn't say he wasn't a hard worker because I was never in a locker room to see how he was working. From someone who looks at greatness and attributes, hands, arms, legs, jumping ability, fast, twitchy, how you move. He should've been Jordan, the next one. He had everything... You've never seen anything like that. But he was a nice guy. I call him lazy because it was my way of saying he was too nice."
The original statement by Arenas goes back to October 2023, when Arenas made a pointed comparison between Carter and his peer Kobe Bryant.
"The GOAT debate should have been him. He was so naturally gifted... He had everything. Dribble, shoot, fade, footwork. He had everything. If he had the mindset of Kobe [Bryant] like 'I'm better than everyone,' there was no one that was stopping that man.
Carter averaged 16.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.1 APG, and 1.0 SPG over a 22-year NBA career.
He never ascended to becoming a league MVP or even a title-contending superstar, which many believe was a waste of his talent. But his career is among the greatest in modern history for its longevity, while his prime gave us some of the most ridiculous highlights in basketball history.
Phil Jackson Believed Vince Carter Lacked The X-Factor
Vince Carter may have had one of the most aesthetically pleasing games in NBA history, but he never managed to convert that into team or individual success. He won Dunk Contests and made All-Star appearances, but he doesn't have many deep playoff runs to reminisce on as the star of the team.
Carter wrestled with comparisons to Michael Jordan for much of his early career. As we saw Carter not live up to those standards, many respected NBA voices were disappointed as they believed Carter had the talent. Jordan and Kobe Bryant's head coach Phil Jackson was one of these people, namedropping Carter as a player with unfulfilled potential, saying he lacked the necessary x-factor.
"Yeah, there’s a couple. There’s a couple of players that were actual contemporaries of theirs. Carter, Vince Carter is one of them and he was really good, he won the dunk contest, and he had a long career, he played until he was 40. He had a really good (career) but he just didn’t have that X factor.”
Fans will love Carter for the incredible highlight reel he left behind, but it must be frustrating to hear voices in the NBA hold such strong opinions over your career, especially when you played for 22 seasons despite being an athletic freak.
More must-reads:
- Kristaps Porzingis' absence shouldn't derail Celtics in East
- Celtics provide updated timeline on Kristaps Porzingis injury
- The 'Highest career PPG in the playoffs' quiz
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