Toronto Raptors fans are divided after the franchise announced former iconic player Vince Carter will soon be the first player to have his jersey retired by the franchise. 

According to TSN sources, the Toronto Raptors are planning on retiring Carter’s No. 15 jersey when they host the Sacramento Kings on Nov. 2. This also marks the first time a Raptors jersey will be lifted into the Scotiabank Arena rafters. 

TSN says the only Raptors banners hanging in the sports venue currently are in commemoration of the franchise’s inaugural season, division wins, conference title, and championship. 

The 47-year-old Florida native started his career with the Raptors in 1998. The shooting guard led the team to its first-ever playoff appearance during the 1999-2000 season and to the team’s first playoff series victory the following year. He went on to become the franchise’s first-ever All-Star and All-NBA player.

In addition to his jersey being retired, Carter will be officially inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in October and have his jersey retired by the Brooklyn Nets come January.

Throughout Carter’s career, he played for eight teams in 22 NBA seasons. Despite being a trailblazer for the early beginnings of the Raptors, the legendary basketball has a controversial legacy. Carter’s seventh season with the Raptors was a rocky one and ended with a trade request to the Nets in December 2004, leaving fans in a fury, with many booing him when he returned to Toronto for games. 

Carter only began to receive positive feedback in 2014 when the Raptors honoured him with a tribute video for their 20th anniversary. At the time, he was a member of the Memphis Grizzlies. 

In response to the news, some social media users are divided over whether the player deserves the esteemed honour.

“This is a tricky one. No single player did more to elevate Toronto as an NBA city. Also, no single player did more to exile Toronto back to the backwaters of the NBA. The highs were undeniably high but the lows were unbelievably loud,” one X user said.

“You’re right in holding a grudge over how his tenure with the Toronto Raptors ended, but Vince Carter helped put the franchise on the map and breathed life into the sport of basketball for what was long considered simply a hockey nation. This is well deserved,” another user said.

“Obviously they were going to retire it. I know the timing wouldn’t work because Lowry will play another 8 years, but I just sort of wished the first jersey we retired wasn’t the guy who famously tanked the franchise for a decade,” another user commented.

“Not sure how I feel about this… My formative memories are still very much centred on the way VC behaved in the lead up to his inevitable trade to Jersey,” another comment read.