Chat with Vince after the dunk Competition.
Q. Vince Carter - - Steve
Francis and Tracy McGrady were asked if they were fighting an uphill battle. Was there
pressure on you because of that?
CARTER: I didn't feel any pressure. I approached it as just an opportunity to
participate and have a little fun with my cousin (McGrady) and some guys that I've played
with. Just have some fun and just show the world some of my talents, and some of the dunks
that I didn't really know that I could do. Honestly, I made some of these dunks up on the
fly, before I actually did them.
 Vince Carter's third dunk was a through-the-legs windmill jam. (NBA Photos) |
Q. As long as you want to participate in this event, is this a battle for second place?
CARTER: I don't know. Honestly, right now -- what happens next year, I could lose.
I could lose for the next three years. But right now I have won. And I have this one
championship under my belt, and next year, you never know.
Q. Vince, would you say that given the performances in this contest, will this be
remembered as one of the great dunk contests of all time?
CARTER: I hope so, because I will, definitely. You just look down the list and you
just look at what these guys have done in games, Larry Hughes on down to Stackhouse,
Tracy, Ricky Davis, Steve and myself. It's unbelievable. It's unbelievable. I can't let it
sink in yet, it's having trouble. It's still hard for me to believe that I was just in the
NBA dunk contest. I remember back in the days me and my friends used to tape them and
watch them all, just watch them over and over again.
Q. Vince, you've often said you don't want to be known as just a dunker, is there
any way you can escape that?
CARTER: This doesn't help. I want to be considered a dunker in games.
Q. My second question is: What do you think Charles Oakley would say?
CARTER: I don't want to be considered a dunker when the game comes. I don't know
what Oak is going to say, I don't know. I'm definitely going to call him. I hope he was
watching.
 Carter said, "It's over" after his third dunk...and it was. (NBA Photos) |
Q. You've seen dunks -- is it easier to dunk on someone, to dunk in front of this many
people?
CARTER: I don't know, when I stepped on court, I didn't have any idea in the first
round what I was going to do. The one between the legs, when Tracy bounced it, I made that
up right before. It was my -- I was just doing it off of instinct. And the second round, I
wanted to do some quality dunks, but that was for sure.
Q. On the last dunk, you had Julius Erving here tonight watching, was the last one
to take off from the foul line like he did in '84?
CARTER: Yeah. (Laughter).
Q. Did you feel good about it or have you practiced that?
CARTER: That was the first time I tried that, two-hand dunk. I wasn't too happy
with it, but I'll take it. I wish I could have tried it again, I think I'd have had a
better second shot.
Q. Vince, which was your favorite dunk and which was the hardest one for you?
CARTER: The hardest one, probably the one, the assist that Tracy did. That was
probably by far the hardest, because you have to have a good bounce, but you have to catch
the ball and be able to put it between your legs, and at the same time still be able to
make the dunk. So that was probably my favorite right now. I thought of it right before.
 Carter kept his fellow NBA players, such as Kevin Garnett, in
awe of his dunks throughout the night. |
Q. Tracy and other people have talked about how creative you are, but where does that
come from? Do you think about it, dream about it?
CARTER: Believe it or not, I had a dream about that dunk a couple of nights ago, I
think the Thursday night I got here. And I think also a guy tried it in the magazine. I
saw it in a magazine that I went through, and I'd like to try it. But somebody has done
that, so let's try it with a bounce. There you go.
Q. The one between your legs?
CARTER: Right, the one Tracy bounced for me.
Q. At one dunk, you looked up in the stands, was that your mom?
CARTER: Always. Always. She's here, and I know she's proud. And I have to enjoy
this All-Star Weekend, because I know she's going to take it home. It was for her, and the
people of Daytona (Florida).
Q. I'm wondering about the one dunk that you did when you put your elbow through? It
was very innovative.
CARTER: I was in Seattle, and Gary Payton gave it to me. I tried it then. I was
trying to do dunks tonight that I've never even seen guys try, or at least never seen done
before or heard, heard of being done. And it was different. It was different. I didn't
know how the judges would react to it, because it's a different dunk, and I think it gave
them a different pace. They've never seen anybody try to put their arm in the rim.
Q. How much do you think you have to do to bring this contest back?
CARTER: I don't know. From what I can hear and all the predictions, I think I had a
lot. It looked like a packed house tonight, I really couldn't tell. I'm glad I could be a
part of it. I think they also came to see the rest of the competition, also.
Q. Vince, the one you dreamed about was the one you put through your legs, and did
you make that in the dream?
CARTER: Of course (laughter). Of course. If I didn't make it, I wouldn't try it. I
had a dream about the top of the key, and I didn't make it; so I didn't try that one.
 Carter launched from the free throw line for a two-handed
slam to clinch the trophy. |
Q. Vince, things are happening pretty fast for you. Where does tonight rank in your
goals, and all your achievements?
CARTER: Oh, man, this -- right now this is No. 1. We'll see what happens tomorrow.
It just took the place of actually making it to the All-Star Game. That's a great feeling.
It's something I've been doing for a long time. I've been in a few dunk contests in my
young career as a basketball player. And now I do it on a professional level. I do it with
some of the best leapers in the world. I'm sure there are others out there. But today is
my day.
Q. What's the next goal?
CARTER: Olympics, MVP maybe in the All-Star Game, one year. I'm not saying this
year, but hopefully one year.
Q. You don't seem entirely comfortable with comparisons to Michael. Does it strike
you, though, that you keep doing things that he did?
CARTER: Yeah. I can't get away from it. And this didn't help being in the dunk
contest. But I just play. I just continue to do the things that I know I can do. And like
tonight, this is just something I enjoy doing. Like I say, I think that's one of the my
qualities. I try not to practice the dunks, and see how good I can do off the fly, just
right there and right at the spur of the moment. And most of the dunks that you saw
tonight were on the spur of the moment.
Q. Have you measured your leap, your jump?
CARTER: I don't like to do that. That's something I try to stay away from is how
high I jump. I just work on persistence, and just perfection. I want to go for perfection.
 NBA great Isaiah Thomas bows before the grandmaster of dunks. (NBA Photos) |
Q. You started off with a bang with a 50. Did you think about what you wanted to start
off with?
CARTER: I wanted my first dunk -- my approach, I think, to this contest was
probably a little different maybe than some of the other guys, I don't know. Maybe some of
the guys wanted to just get one under their belt. Me, I wanted to come out with a bang and
just get that first one out of the way, and hopefully, everything else would fall into
place. I was going for a 50 all night. But I have to have a talk with Kenny, who
shortchanged me on one.
Q. Vince, do you remember how old you were when you dunked the first time and where
you were and just how you felt afterward?
CARTER: I think I was in about the 6th grade, summer of the 6th and 7th grade I
first dunked. And how I felt? I felt probably like I feel now, excited, just accomplished
something that not many people get to accomplish, and that's winning the slam dunk
championship.
Q. Vince, what's more of a thrill, dunking on someone during a game or something
like this?
CARTER: Oh, man -- both. I enjoy both. I'm shying away from dunking on people
nowadays, because when you try it the second time, it doesn't work, you pay for it and
I've learned that. They both give me great pleasure. But right now, it's winning this
contest is probably No. 1.
Q. Vince, what is the greatest dunk you've seen, was it Erving's dunk or was there
one that you rank as the greatest you've seen?
CARTER: I don't know what the greatest dunk is. It's hard. There's so many dunks
that I've been impressed with, it's hard to really say one.
NBA.COM CHAT WITH VINCE CARTER (all star game 2000)
DANA HASKINS from proxy.aol.com at 11:33 p.m. ET
Congrats on a successful Slam Dunk contest -- you brought it back in style! God Bless you
in tomorrow's All-Star Game!
Vince Carter at 11:33 p.m. ET
Thanks very much; I appreciate it. It feels good right now, but I'm glad it's over.
Samuel from sprint.ca at 11:33 p.m. ET
Hey, Vince!! I couldn't believe those dunks you did. Anyway, what happened to that 720
dunk you told Shaq about? Keep flyin' ...
Vince Carter at 11:34 p.m. ET
Actually, Shaq kept telling me to do it every time I looked over there. But I didn't feel
ready for that tonight.
Rodrigo from brasilnet.net at 11:34pm ET
You are The Man! What are you feeling now?
Vince Carter at 11:35 p.m. ET
Relieved (at) just having the opportunity to concentrate on Sunday to play in the All-Star
Game. That's what I was really looking forward to when I got here and now I can focus on
that.
charles buenaventura from corp.3com.com at 11:35 p.m. ET
Vince how do you compare your performance tonight to Michael Jordan's in 1988?
Vince Carter at 11:35 p.m. ET
I can't compare mine to Michael. I just did what I had to do to get the win.
Churchie from mgl.ca at 11:35 p.m. ET
Didn't that hurt putting your arm down the rim?
Vince Carter at 11:36 p.m. ET
It didn't hurt at all. I made sure I knew what I was doing, and that's why I held on, so I
wouldn't hurt myself.
Vince Carter at 11:36 p.m. ET
I'm just happy that everyone could be a part of this wonderful night for me. Hopefully I
can come back and do it again next year. I hope to defend the title next year.
The 1996-97 Interview:
Question: How does it feel to have your freshman year over with?
Answer: I feel that I have experience under my belt, so I can relax and play basketball.
Q: How does the obvious animosity Florida State fans have towards you make you feel considering Florida State is so close to home?
A: It doesn't bother me at all. I just don't pay any attention because I picked Carolina.
Q: What was your favorite dunk from this past season?
A: Either the one from Villanova or Wake Forest.
Q: What areas do you see yourself as needing improvement?
A: I don't know. I trust my coaches, so I would rather let them tell me. I worked on my game a lot over the summer, so I feel that I am ready to go.
Q: What do you see as your greatest strength?
A: Dunking and driving to the basket.
Q: Who's your favorite opponent?
A: Florida State and Duke.
Q: When you walk across campus, how does it make you feel when everyone stares at you?
A: I don't really notice it.
Q: Do you try to pattern your play after anyone?
A: I take a lot of favorite moves from great players and add them to my repertoire.
Q: How would you like to be remembered when your UNC career is over?
A: With respect and admiration.
The 1995-96 Interview:
Question: Where were you born and raised?
Answer: Daytona Beach, Florida
Q: When did you first start playing basketball?
A: When I was 2, I started playing with my first basketball, but I didn't play on a team until I was 7.
Q: As you grew up playing basketball, were you always better than the other kids?
A: Uhh...
Q: When people divided into two teams and picked players, were you always the first to be picked. In other words, do you feel your basketball ability made you stand out?
A: Yes, most of the time.
Q: When and how did you become aware that you could play basketball at a college level?
A: When I started being heavily recruited as a junior in high school.
Q: What were some of your other college offers, and how did you pick UNC?
A: I was recruited by schools like Duke, Florida State, and Florida, but I picked UNC because it's a good school, and, most importantly, I felt comfortable from the beginning at UNC.
Q: ESPN picked you to be one of several college players to be leaving for the NBA before graduating from college. Do you have any responses to that?
A: I will wait until I am ready.
Q: You have been compared to Jerry Stackhouse, and he has been repeatedly compared to Michael Jordan. Do you consider that to be an honor or an added pressure?
A: My only concern is just being myself by contributing as best I can to the team.
Q: If you could play for any NBA team, which team would you choose?
A: My dream is to play in the NBA, but if I have the opportunity to pick the specifics of my dream, then I would rather play for an east coast team.
Q: When did you dunk for the first time?
A: In sixth grade.
Q: And the first time in a game?
A: In ninth grade.
Q: What is your favorite dunk?
A: (Antawn, what's my favorite dunk? It's gotta be the windmill, Vince.)
A one-handed windmill.
Q: What are some of your hobbies besides basketball?
A: Playing musical instruments such as the saxophone, baritone, and trumpet.
Q: As a freshman, what is it like to try to adjust to so many people looking up to you?
A: People can expect an overwhelming amount from you, but I just try to do my best to contribute.
Q: After a game, what is the first aspect of your playing that your parents will likely comment on?
A: A good dunk.