Vince Carter had single-handedly ignited an entire nation's basketball market.
One man, one country!
All of Canada was a fan of Half-Man, Half-God.
This was no exaggeration!
What had Canada's basketball market been like before Vince Carter came to the Vancouver Grizzlies?
Amid the vast expanses of ice and snow, no fans enjoyed playing basketball outdoors. They preferred hockey; it could be said that hockey was Canadian fans' favorite sport, without question.
But after Mamba Sports' second-in-command, Half-Man, Half-God Vince Carter, joined the Vancouver Grizzlies, the changes in just a few short years had left even Stern astonished!
Stern had originally planned to move the Vancouver Grizzlies back to the United States!
The Raptors and Grizzlies had both been established to develop the North American market. The two teams had entered the league together in 1995, and for their first few years, both had operated at a loss.
For countless games, seats in the arena sat empty. Only when a handful of legendary teams came to play on the road would the arena fill up.
Stern had sent some quality players to both teams as well, but the players were unwilling to stay in a foreign land of ice and snow, while the fans had not been drawn in by those second-tier stars.
When Carter entered the league, everything changed!
Vince Carter's game was second only to Kobe's in terms of beauty and entertainment value in the league. Many fans even believed Carter's basketball was more exciting to watch.
He had put up All-Star-level numbers in his first few years, and he improved step by step almost every year. As the team gradually strengthened its roster, he too grew into a superstar!
Half-Man, Half-God!
If Kobe and Jordan were gods of basketball, then Vince Carter was the player of this