Vince Carter has read the papers, has heard the whispers, and is aware of the decline in his standing among the NBA's elite.
And with a spot on the star-laden United States national team for this summer's Olympic trials next month, the Toronto Raptors shooting guard is once again determined to prove he belongs among the titans of the game.
"This means a lot to me," said Carter in a conference call yesterday. "I think this is really a chance for me to really show my teammates, show the world, show [the media], everybody, that I'm ready to go, even before the season starts. This is a great opportunity."
On Monday, Carter was added to the U.S. team for the Olympic qualifying tournament Aug. 20-31 in Puerto Rico. He will replace Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who underwent shoulder and knee surgery this summer, and is facing sexual assault charges. Carter, for his part, says he has learned from the spate of NBA arrests in this off-season.
"This summer has taught me to stay my butt in the house, in Florida," he said.
Carter is not guaranteed a spot on the roster at the 2004 Athens Olympics, should the United States qualify, despite his spectacular showing at the 2000 Games in Sydney. There will be three roster spots that could be available.
Still, Carter said a return to elite competition will only help him once the season begins. And he intends to prove his worth to his U.S. teammates -- to superstars such as Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, and Jason Kidd, as well as to those whom Carter feels have slighted him the past two years -- before showing everybody else.
"They'll see who I am, and what I'm about, and hopefully some of those guys will regret what they said, and they'll come to me [and say] 'Look, I'm sorry,' " said Carter, who did not indicate which teammates should take that route. "However it's handled, they'll see it for themselves.
"I'm confident that I am on the level that they are on, as far as basketball is concerned."
It is yet another chance at redemption for the 26-year-old Carter, whose career has floundered due to persistent injuries and a perception that his work ethic does not match his prodigious talent. Last season was supposed to be a chance at rebirth after an injury- and criticism-plagued 2001-2002 season, but Carter was again beset by knee injuries, and played just 43 games.
"It was a rough season, and there's a lot of doubters out there, I know," he said of Toronto's disastrous 24-58 campaign.
The news that he had been added to the squad was just part of an overwhelming day for Carter. He found out his grandmother had died a few hours before his mother, Michelle, called with the Olympic news. But after careful consideration, he decided to play.
"I'm not going out there and be a superstar, to show I can take over," Carter said. "It's not about that. It's my chance to go out there and let people see that I'm fine, I'm healthy, I'm on way back and I'm ready to go."
http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=6615734A-D73E-4299-8C2F-9183705C20F4
And with a spot on the star-laden United States national team for this summer's Olympic trials next month, the Toronto Raptors shooting guard is once again determined to prove he belongs among the titans of the game.
"This means a lot to me," said Carter in a conference call yesterday. "I think this is really a chance for me to really show my teammates, show the world, show [the media], everybody, that I'm ready to go, even before the season starts. This is a great opportunity."
On Monday, Carter was added to the U.S. team for the Olympic qualifying tournament Aug. 20-31 in Puerto Rico. He will replace Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who underwent shoulder and knee surgery this summer, and is facing sexual assault charges. Carter, for his part, says he has learned from the spate of NBA arrests in this off-season.
"This summer has taught me to stay my butt in the house, in Florida," he said.
Carter is not guaranteed a spot on the roster at the 2004 Athens Olympics, should the United States qualify, despite his spectacular showing at the 2000 Games in Sydney. There will be three roster spots that could be available.
Still, Carter said a return to elite competition will only help him once the season begins. And he intends to prove his worth to his U.S. teammates -- to superstars such as Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, and Jason Kidd, as well as to those whom Carter feels have slighted him the past two years -- before showing everybody else.
"They'll see who I am, and what I'm about, and hopefully some of those guys will regret what they said, and they'll come to me [and say] 'Look, I'm sorry,' " said Carter, who did not indicate which teammates should take that route. "However it's handled, they'll see it for themselves.
"I'm confident that I am on the level that they are on, as far as basketball is concerned."
It is yet another chance at redemption for the 26-year-old Carter, whose career has floundered due to persistent injuries and a perception that his work ethic does not match his prodigious talent. Last season was supposed to be a chance at rebirth after an injury- and criticism-plagued 2001-2002 season, but Carter was again beset by knee injuries, and played just 43 games.
"It was a rough season, and there's a lot of doubters out there, I know," he said of Toronto's disastrous 24-58 campaign.
The news that he had been added to the squad was just part of an overwhelming day for Carter. He found out his grandmother had died a few hours before his mother, Michelle, called with the Olympic news. But after careful consideration, he decided to play.
"I'm not going out there and be a superstar, to show I can take over," Carter said. "It's not about that. It's my chance to go out there and let people see that I'm fine, I'm healthy, I'm on way back and I'm ready to go."
http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=6615734A-D73E-4299-8C2F-9183705C20F4
