Let's celebrate Vince Carter's birthday the right way

It's been a few years removed, but it'd be silly to forget what Vince Carter was like before the Memphis or Dallas days. Heck, before even the Phoenix or Orlando ones. 

Raptors Vince Carter and the early stages of Nets Vince Carter were like nothing we've ever seen. His athleticism was unprecedented around the league. His dunks were an event. Everyone had a favorite, from players to fans to coaches. 

So, for Carter's 39th birthday, which he celebrated Tuesday, the NBA released a video to remind everyone exactly how great of a career Carter has had. It's a fun watch if you have a few minutes:

There shouldn't be much debate over Carter's Hall of Fame credentials anymore. He's arguably the best dunker who ever lived. He's 25th on the NBA's all-time scoring list and could be higher by the end of the season. He has eight All-Star and two All-NBA appearances. And he's one of the rare examples of superstars who has sustained greatness and then gracefully accepted smaller roles on winning teams in his later years. 

He doesn't have it anymore. Ever since arriving in Memphis last year, he hasn't been close to the same player he was when he was one of the best bench performers in the league as a member of the Mavericks. But if this is Carter's final season, the 18th one he's played, we should be sending him off in style as we would any other future Hall of Famer.