Breaking News:Toronto Raptors records a sad and terrifying news Auston Matthews is involved
Auston Matthews is the biggest star in Leafs history, and more committed to playing in Toronto than Carter ever was.
Auston Matthews has already accomplished much more as a member of the Maple Leafs than Vince Carter ever did playing for the Toronto Raptors.
Statistically, it’s not really very close.
But as we saw with the latest manifestation of Vinsanity this past weekend when it was announced he will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, he remains beloved in the city and a transformative figure in the history of Toronto’s basketball franchise, and Canadian basketball in general
Matthews? He is surely appreciated. But beloved? Revered in the same way Carter was during his 6 1/2 seasons as Raptor? Definitely not.
Why that is, and why the gap feels so significant, is worth exploring.
Carter, of course, is retired after a record 22 seasons in the NBA. He played for eight teams and spent most of his career outside Canada. He will be remembered as one of the most electrifying dunkers in NBA history.
He was rookie of the year in 1999 and an NBA all-star eight times. He topped out at 27.6 points per game in the 2000-01 season, fifth in the league.
While with the Raptors, they made the playoffs three times and won one series. On Dec. 17, 2004 he was shipped out of Toronto, at least partly because he imagined greener pastures elsewhere and had grown unhappy with the organization.
His stay in Toronto was meteoric, but short. He isn’t even in the top 10 for games played by a Raptor. Despite his longevity, he isn’t regarded as one of the top 50 NBA players of all time, maybe not even top 100.
Still, he is as famous as any Raptor, even those who brought an NBA championship to We The North territory in 2019. Most of the bad feelings generated by his messy departure have been washed away by time.
By contrast, Matthews is 26 years old and has already played more seasons in Toronto than Carter did. He has succeeded Alex Ovechkin as the NHL’s most prolific goal scorer, and will soon capture his third Rocket Richard Trophy in four seasons.
He’ll be in the running for a second Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP, which he won in 2022 — the first Leaf to win the silverware in 78 years. His is an extraordinary story: born in Arizona, partly of Mexican heritage. He hit the NHL like a hurricane, scoring four goals in his first game en route to being voted the league’s top rookie.
On top of it all, Matthews signed an extension last year that will ensure he plays for the Leafs until at least 2028. He could have looked to qualify for unrestricted free agency in order to play in his native United States, but chose to stay.