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Grizzlies’ Anthony Carter on opposite side of son Devin’s NBA debut
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Anthony Carter made one request.
The Memphis Grizzlies assistant coach told the team he would stand and clap when Sacramento Kings guard Devin Carter made his first basket.
Even though Devin Carter plays for the opposing team, there were no objections to Anthony Carter’s request.
Carter has the unique opportunity of watching his son’s NBA debut during Friday night’s matchup between the Grizzlies and Kings.
So he’ll celebrate his son’s first NBA points, and then the competitive fire will kick in.
“Other than that, I want the win,” Anthony Carter said.
Devin Carter was the 13th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. His father was there, seated alongside him on draft night in New York City. Anthony also was there for Devin’s introductory news conference in Sacramento.
Anthony Carter remembers the uncertainty before the draft. Devin was dealing with a shoulder injury and they were unsure if an NBA team would take a chance on him.
Devin got surgery in July, and after a string of rehab games, his NBA debut will come with his father seated on the opposing bench.
“I’m just a little bit nervous. Not knowing what to expect,” Anthony Carter said. “I know how much hard work he put in behind the scenes with his rehab and stuff.”
“It’s just a great feeling to be able to say that your son made it to the NBA,” he later added.
About 80 minutes before tipoff, Anthony sat down on the courtside bench. One seat to his right was his son.
A 10-minute conversation proceeded. The two regularly have these talks before games, but Friday night was different.
This time, the father was wearing Grizzlies gear, and his son donned Kings shorts and purple sneakers.
“It’s just a blessing,” Devin Carter said. “Especially to play my first NBA game in front of him. Something you dream of as a kid.”
The nostalgia started to set in on the journey from Anthony Carter. He remembers the long days of when he was in the NBA and would workout with his son after games around the midnight hour.
He also remembers the choice. While Carter had a 13-year NBA career, he didn’t care if his son chose basketball or any other sport.
But Devin Carter made his choice early, so the two put in years and years of work towards that goal. A goal that resulted in a standout college career at Providence and becoming an NBA lottery pick.
“At the end of the day, I played basketball because I loved it,” Carter said. “Me telling him that just definitely built our bond a little bit more as well.”
Kings coach Doug Christie said Carter will play. Christie wants Carter to focus on defense and making the hustle plays.
Even if those hustle plays result in a little family fire.
“You might dive on a ball and take pops out, you never know,” Christie said.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
The NBA world was abuzz as Memphis Grizzlies assistant coach Anthony Carter found himself on the opposite side of the court from his son Devin Carter’s NBA debut. It was a bittersweet moment for the father-son duo, who have shared a love for basketball since Devin was a young boy.
Anthony Carter, a former NBA player himself, has been coaching in the league for several years now. Seeing his son follow in his footsteps and make it to the highest level of basketball was a proud moment for him, even if it meant they were on opposing teams for the night.
Devin Carter, a highly touted rookie, showed flashes of his potential in his debut game against the Grizzlies. Despite the competitive nature of the game, there was no denying the special bond between father and son as they shared a brief embrace after the final buzzer.
For Anthony Carter, it was a surreal experience to see his son living out his dream on the same court where he once played. And for Devin, it was a moment he will never forget, knowing that his father’s guidance and support helped him reach this milestone in his career.
As they walked off the court together, the Carter duo knew that this was just the beginning of a new chapter in their basketball journey. And no matter which team they find themselves on in the future, their bond as father and son will always remain unbreakable.
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- Grizzlies Anthony Carter
- NBA debut
- Father-son duo
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Devin Carter
- NBA debut game
- Anthony Carter
- Family in the NBA
- Father-son basketball
- Carter family in the NBA
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