This is the month of Vince Carter and "a dream come true" Carter says about being traded to the Orlando Magic.
The NBA star and Mainland High grad was not only recently in the news for announcing his trade to the Orlando Magic, but he'll be honored Wednesday, July 1, by the Stewart-Marchman-Act Foundation for his contributions in the community, including giving $1 million toward the new Vince Carter Sanctuary substance abuse treatment center opening soon in Bunnell. He also will will serve as the honorary Pace Car driver for the 51st annual Coke Zero 400 Powered Coca-Cola NASCAR Sprint Cup Series on Saturday.
I talked to him this week and here is what he said about being honored and going to the magic.
He said "it's amazing" to be honored though he added he gives back because he wants to and not for the recognition.He said enjoys "helping people have a better life."
"If I can do that through the opportunities I've been given, I'm going to try to do so," Carter said
.
As far as the Magic, he grew up watching the team and always hoped one day he'd be wearing the jersey.
"This is big," Carter said in a phone interview Monday. "It's a dream come true. It was a wonderful opportunity."
Carter, 32, was acquired by the Magic last week from the New Jersey Nets. He said he was a big fan growing up and is good friends with Nick Anderson and Dwight Howard and would watch Shaquille O'Neal, Magic General Manager Otis Smith, when he played on the team, and Penny Hardaway.
Carter was doing a basketball camp for high school kids for Nike when he got the call.
"I got that call and it was so surreal. I couldn't believe it," he said. "I'm excited. I'm thrilled. I always said if the opportunity presented itself, it would be great to play at home. I knew nothing about the possibility. I was surprised and shocked like everybody else."
Playing at home and now playing for a "very good basketball team" that played in the playoffs, is an added bonus, he said. He thinks Orlando has the opportunity to play in the championships again.
He's already here in Orlando and his work will start next week. He plans to watch Ryan Anderson play in the summer league next week and will begin meeting with the coaching staff and Smith. He plans to start working out with the other players in August.
He said it will be nice to be in the area year-round to work more on his
Embassy of Hope Foundation, a new restaurant on LPGA Boulevard and the Vince Carter Sanctuary.
His mom, Michelle Carter-Scott, who also donated to the Vince Carter Sanctuary and has a building on the site in her name, said "it's great he's going to be right down the street (playing with the Magic.) I won't have to fly to so many games."
She also recalled the end of his junior year in high school how he was in a dunk contest at the Orlando Magic half-time show. She said they choose the "best dunker" from Seminole, Orange and Volusia counties and "Vince won it in a landslide."