Vinsanity

On June 24th, 1998, the Raptors franchise changed forever. During NBA draft night, Toronto dealt its fourth overall selection, University of North Carolina forward Antawn Jamison to Golden State for its fifth overall pick, Jamison's UNC teammate, Vincent Lamar Carter, and cash considerations. In what would be one of the NBA's most intense love-hate relationships between a team's fan base and its superstar, Vinsanity was born.

The marriage began beautifully. In the early years, Vince "Air Canada" Carter thrilled Raptors fans with his electrifying and thunderous aerial assault on NBA rims across North America. As a result the accolades were piling up — a Rookie of the Year award, two All-Star selections, an eye-popping 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest win, and two trips to the playoffs — in his first three seasons. "He was a premier talent," Carter's former Raptors teammate, Jerome Williams said. "He was definitely one of those players who got not only the fans excited, but he got his teammates excited. Whenever you have a guy with that type of athleticism and talent level, there's a buzz in the air."

Toronto was in love. Raptors fans' memories of the franchise's losing ways before Vince arrived had now been replaced with his crowd-pleasing, high-flying acrobatics at the Air Canada Centre, which dominated nightly sports television highlight reels.

Alas, like many marriages, this one had its bumps. One of the biggest was before Game 7 of a 2001 second-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Carter decided to attend his North Carolina graduation earlier that day. His controversial move confused and angered many Raptors fans and some teammates who felt he should have stayed with the club. It reached a boiling point later when Carter — in the waning seconds of Game 7 — missed what would have been a series-winning shot which ended the Raptors once promising season. All of a sudden Carter's golden image, in Raptors fans' eyes, lost some of its lustre.

In the next few seasons, he would experience various injuries, increased fan and mediia scrutiny suggesting he was quitting on the team, and issues with management, which ultimately forced a December 2004 trade to New Jersey.

Just like that, the love affair was over. Carter had become Raptors' fans most hated villain. With every future Toronto return, a reign of boos would always greet No. 15 — until November 2014, when during an in-game video tribute to the Raptors former superstar, some cheered bringing Vince to tears.

Whether you despise or love him, you can't deny Vinsanity put Toronto on the NBA map and brought excitement and joy to global basketball fans, including the future Canadian NBA players he inspired. Carter, who averaged 23.4 points per game as a Raptor, is the most dominating, explosive, and polarizing player in franchise history. Despite his flaws you might see his on-court brilliance recognized with an induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Canada Connection

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson has a special connection with Carter. Growing up, the Brampton, Ontario, native went to Carter's basketball camp where he saw his hero up close. Years later, during the 2013 NBA All-Star weekend, Thompson spoke with his idol. "[Vince] remembered me from when I was in ninth grade," said the 2011 first-round draft pick. "He and I chit-chatted and had a couple of jokes. But Vince was one of the great players for [Toronto] and one of the great players of this league." Thompson then offered the ultimate compliment: "Vinsanity was my Michael Jordan. I looked up to him."

Wince Carter and the Breakup

On August 1st, 2001, fresh off their best playoff run in team history, the Raptors signed their franchise player to a six-year, $94 million extension on what then-Toronto mayor Mel Lastman declared as Vince Carter day. "It would have been tough to go elsewhere when he made it my day," said Carter, who...