Right After Rejecting Shaquille O’Neal’s $200 Million Bet, Vince Carter Backpedals in Old Home

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It was just another night at Scotiabank Arena until it wasn’t. The Toronto Raptors took down the Phoenix Suns, but the real show happened before tip-off. Vince Carter, the man who once put the Raptors on the map, was back in the building. And, of course, every time VC and Toronto reunite, it’s impossible not to think about that 2000 Dunk Contest. Remember when Shaquille O’Neal threw down a $200 million challenge for Carter to recreate it? Carter laughed it off, blaming his 48-year-old knees. But what happened Sunday night might just make Shaq raise an eyebrow.

Before the game, Carter was spotted casually draining threes alongside Alvin Williams. It was like the clock had rewound, and the fans loved every second of it. Sportsnet’s reporter Savanna Hamilton caught the moment and quickly shared it on X, and as expected, the post blew up.

And then it got even better. One fan couldn’t resist, dropping a comment with Carter’s iconic windmill and honey dip dunks, practically begging for more than just warm-up jumpers. That’s when Hamilton dropped the bombshell: “He [Vince Carter] told me he can still dunk! 👀” Wait, what? The same Carter who passed on Shaq’s $200 million bet?

Naturally, Raptors fans lost it. Watching Carter hoop was nostalgic enough, but hearing he could still rise? That was the cherry on top, especially after the Raptors’ nail-biter of a win. The Suns had clawed back within two after a 10-0 run late in the fourth, making it look like Toronto might fold.

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But the Raptors flipped the script with a 22-7 run, hitting seven straight threes, including a four-point play, to slam the door shut. While the win had the Raptors Nation buzzing, you can only imagine Shaq’s reaction when he hears VC still has dunking power. Maybe that $200 million bet isn’t off the table after all.

Vince Carter rejects Shaquille O’Neal’s $200 million challenge

During All-Star Weekend, Shaquille O’Neal did what only Shaq could do—he put $200 million on the table for Vince Carter to recreate his legendary slam dunks. Just thinking about that is enough to make anyone’s knees ache! The internet exploded, not just because of the insane amount of money, but because the idea of a 48-year-old VC soaring like it was still 2000 seemed downright crazy.

And Shaq, being Shaq, wasn’t about to let it go quietly. “Two hundred million, Vince! That’s generational wealth!” he shouted on live TV, making sure the world knew just how serious he was. The moment instantly went viral, with NBATNT capturing Carter’s stunned reaction in a hilarious Instagram post. The Big Diesel has always known how to stir the pot, and this time was no different.

Carter, ever the humble legend, politely turned down the offer. “I’m good, man. I’m 48 years old,” he said with a knowing smile. And honestly, who could blame him? After decades of putting his knees through the wringer for our entertainment, expecting him to pull off those vicious windmills and honey dip jams again seemed almost impossible.

But then, just when everyone thought the case was closed, Carter did something that made people wonder—was he really done defying gravity? Can he? What do you think?