Vince Carter had an incredible 22-year NBA career, earning eight All-Star selections, two All-NBA honors and a place in the Hall of Fame. Still, for many fans, his defining moment remains the unforgettable performance at the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest.
Anticipation was at an all-time high for the event, which was returning after a three-year absence. And with Carter showcasing his awe-inspiring athleticism, fans and NBA players looked forward to seeing the former Tar Heel compete on that Saturday night in Oakland.
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Carter didn’t disappoint as he scored a perfect 50 on three of the five dunks that he threw down in the contest. Although he did get some competition from his cousin, Tracy McGrady, and Steve Francis, there was no question who would hoist the trophy that night.
One person who remembers that event very well was Ricky Davis, one of the participants along with Larry Hughes and Jerry Stackhouse. Unfortunately for the 6’6″ wingman, he had to dunk after Carter, which meant he had the impossible task of following up on such a compelling act.
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The crowd was still buzzing
With his front row seat to Carter’s dunking display, Davis remembers the details of that event very well. From the things that Carter did to how the crowd reacted to it, every moment was seared deep into his memory.
At the same time, he recalled how dunking after Carter was a lot like being placed behind the eight-ball.
“It was Vince Carter, then it was Jerry Stackhouse, and then I was right after that,” Davis shared. “And the crowd was still cheering for Vince.”
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Picked 21st by the Charlotte Hornets during the 1998 draft, Davis was playing in his sophomore season at that time, so nobody could blame him for having butterflies in his stomach. Nevertheless, he considers the experience priceless, sharing the stage with two Hall of Famers.
“So it was intimidating at the same time — me being a young guy going in there on that stage — but it was amazing. It was a blessing,” Davis said. “I got to go out there and represent my man Bobby Phills that just passed away. So it was a good thing for me. I enjoyed it.”
Up the ante
Echoing what many fans, analysts and former NBA players are saying about the dunk contest, which has undoubtedly lost the luster it once had, Davis said that raising the stakes would go a long way to getting All-Stars to join the event.
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This season saw four unheralded players compete with Keshad Johnson, an NBA sophomore who averaged 4.3 points in 8.8 minutes per game for the Miami Heat, coming away with the victory
“I think they need to raise the ante for contest cash,” Davis stated. “If we can get those celebrities, those stars that we want to see — the guys that are dunking in games — if we can get a Ja Morant and guys like that to come out and just have fun with it…”
“But you put a million dollars on it… we’re going to have some guys in there,” he added.
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The Slam Dunk Contest’s fall from grace has been hard to watch, to the point where many are questioning if it should still be part of All-Star weekend. It’s a valid notion, as fans aren’t keen on spending top dollar or time watching relative unknowns take part in what used to be the crown jewel of the entire weekend.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.