Vince Carter has announced his retirement from basketball after playing a record 22 seasons in the NBA at the age of 43.

Carter, who was fondly called "VICINITY,spent was with the Atlanta Hawks in the last two seasons and played his last game on 11 March before the NBA season was abruptly halted owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

Carter, who was drafted in 1998 by the Toronto Raptors as the 5th overall pick, is the first NBA player to play in four decades, and 22 seasons in the league. 

"I'm officially done playing basketball professionally," Carter said.

Despite having a great season with an All-Star performance from their best player, Trae Young, the Hawks would not be among the 22 teams on parade for the NBA restart which will take place at Florida's Disney World Resort from m 30 July.

Carter, who is an Olympic gold medalist said his last shot, which was a three-pointer in a 136-131 loss to the New York Knicks, helped his decision to retire.

"I think if I didn't make my last shot, it'd have been a little different.
I'd have been itching to, at least get back and just play one minute and just make one shot."

He further said: "I'm not going to say since March 11 [I knew I was going to retire], I'm not going to say since that day, but pretty close.

"With the coronavirus, it was taking people's lives rapidly -that's the big picture in my mind.
I was able to put the weird ending, the abrupt stoppage of play to an ending, aside for the bigger picture."

The 6 ft 6 guard/forward who is regarded as one of the greatest dunkers of all time would be remembered for his time with the Raptors with whom he won the slam dunk contest and was nicknamed "Air Canada." 

Carter who also played for the Memphis Grizzlies and New Jersey Nets, played for eight different teams in the NBA and was named rookie of the year in 1998 and was an eight-time NBA All Star.