Nets thrilled for Vince Carter’s number retirement

Ziaire Williams is looking forward to honoring one of the players on his NBA Mt. Rushmore on Saturday at Barclays Center. 

“Definitely top of the charts. Him, [Michael] Jordan,” Williams said. “I feel it’s like a big drop off [after that], you know? I don’t know (who) the next two are, but he’s at the top of that list, for sure.” 

The Nets will be raising Vince Carter’s jersey to the rafters before Saturday’s game against the Heat.

On Thursday night, the Nets had a red-carpet premiere of “From Daytona Beach to Brooklyn,” a documentary film of Carter as part of the team’s “From ____ to Brooklyn” series. 

“I’ve just said hello to him like walking into the game,” Jalen Wilson added of the Nets legend. “Always just been good energy. And then last night going to the premiere of the documentary was really good to see him, just show him love and give him his flowers.” 

Across his 22-year Hall of Fame career, Carter spent five years with the New Jersey Nets after arriving from Toronto in 2004.

He earned two of his eight All-Star nods with the franchise and helped the team make three postseason appearances, including two Eastern Conference semifinals, while averaging 23.6 points. 

Wilson, a Denton, Texas native, used to catch some of Carter’s games when he was with the Mavericks from 2011-14.

He also noted he wouldn’t dare to contest a Carter dunk at his age of 24. 

“Not at all. I said it last night,” Wilson said. “That’s a business decision. I may try to go vertical, but if it’s something I know he’s gonna get, might as well just move out of the way.” 

“As a kid, one of my favorite jerseys still to this day is that old-school Raptors jersey and that’s obviously because of him. I grew up in Dallas, so I saw him with the Mavs. Special times there. So, just being a player who’s obviously played over 20 years in the NBA, which is crazy. I’m 24 so he played almost as many years as me being alive. Just a guy who’s just stuck around a long time … one of the best to do it.” 

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Carter’s No. 15 will be the seventh retired jersey to hang inside Barclays Center, along with the late Drazen Petrovic (3), Jason Kidd (5), John Williamson (23), Bill Melchionni (25), Julius Erving (32) and Buck Williams (52). 

“I remember obviously watching him play from the Toronto days, the Jersey days, then I was already in the NBA at that point after that,” coach Jordi Fernandez said. “You don’t realize that he played for 22 years. He went from being like a top guy to having a different role and accepting that role and that means a lot….Honoring his career and putting his jersey up there, I think, is the least we can do and we’re excited to honor his legacy.” 

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Cam Johnson (ankle) will sit out Saturday’s game and will be assessed next week, Fernandez noted. 

The forward aggravated the injury while guarding friend and former teammate Mikal Bridges on Tuesday.

He initially suffered the injury on Jan. 2 against the Bucks when securing a rebound in the final seconds. 

It sidelined him for five games until playing 26 minutes and scoring 24 points against Portland.

He then sat the next two games before returning for two games against the Thunder and Knicks. 

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Williams (ankle) said he felt “good” after Friday’s practice and he hopes to play on Saturday against the Heat.

He has been day-to-day and missed the last two games with the injury. 

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The Nets should “soon” expect the return of Trendon Watford, according to Fernandez. 

Watford, who has been nursing a hamstring injury, will be out against the Heat but will be listed as day-to-day following the game.