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By now we all see how well Demar has ascended this season, and he's definitely playing the best basketball of his career. But how good of a player was he in comparison to the other former Raptor Legend Vince Carter? Who was better at their best and why? And if you had to choose one for your team at their peaks, who would you choose? I personally believe it's close and am a bit torn since it's hard to say. Volume-wise, this isn't even Demar's best season, but if he had the same usage he had in his best statistical season, he'd definitely surpass his previous career-high. They both have great strengths, so it's hard to say imo.

Demar: 25.7 pts, 4.8 assists, 5.2 rbs, 0.3 blks, FG/3PT/FT = 48.8%/35.2%/85.6

Vince: 27.6 pts, 3.9 assists, 5.5 rbs, 1.1 blks FG/3PT/FT = 46%/40.8%/75.6%

Demar ascending this season is an early season narrative that was formed on a low sample size. He has not "ascended", go look at his numbers again - he's had seasons like this before.

It's a quality all-star season, but nothing special behind that.

Vince Carter's numbers are pretty easily better. His peak happened 20 seasons ago, in an era where high volume scoring and efficient volume scoring was harder to come by than today. 27 points on 55 TS% in 2001 is a bit more impressive than 26 points on 58 TS% in 2022.

Carter is also a better defender and 3 point shooter despite playing in an era where 3 point shooting wasn't that important yet.

Furthermore, we have a 12 game playoff sample from peak Carter's season, and he went against some great defenses in the 2001 Sixers. We know that Carter can more or less maintain this level of play in the PS, we do not really know if DeMar can be a big volume scorer in the post season - he's only topped out around 22 PPG, including the regular season where he averaged 27 points per game.


Given DeMar's numbers are more likely to go down than up, it's much safer to assume that Peak Carter was better.

Vince easy. His skillset wasn't even that ideal for the iso era he played in. I think he'd be an absolute monster with the pace, space, and shooting of the current league meta. Worth dealing with his crappy attitude

Early 2000s players get overrated like hell on realGM due to nostalgia. Whether it is correct or not, VC wins this easily

Vince at his peak was a top 5 player in the NBA. Go back and look at his playoff series against the Sixers, Demar has never been anywhere close to that in the playoffs.

Carter very easily. We've seen DeRozan when the pressure gets ramped up. Carter despite what casuals say was always one of the most clutch players in the league.

Bulls2021 wrote:Early 2000s players get overrated like hell on realGM due to nostalgia. Whether it is correct or not, VC wins this easily

Early 2000s players were easily more skilled than the spotup shooters of this generation

one thing i'd add is that i know demar recently won back to back games with buzzer beater 3's, but vince literally was also one of the most clutch players i'd ever seen. peak vince was absolutely incredible.

I'm going to take the guy that every likes to be around, works hard with what he was given and hasn't left his team and his teammates hanging out to dry. 100 out of 100 times.

Vince did it in the playoffs too. We've seen this before with Demar, if he wants to change that narrative he'll have the opportunity in May.

You can argue Vince's peak was that first season with the Nets after he quit on the Raptors, also.

Johnny Bball wrote:I'm going to take the guy that every likes to be around, works hard with what he was given and hasn't left his team and his teammates hanging out to dry. 100 out of 100 times.

I think the idea of Peak is that he isn't giving up on his teammates.

You're saying who you want for one game to save the universe.

And the answer is Vince.

Duffman100 wrote:

Johnny Bball wrote:I'm going to take the guy that every likes to be around, works hard with what he was given and hasn't left his team and his teammates hanging out to dry. 100 out of 100 times.

I think the idea of Peak is that he isn't giving up on his teammates.

You're saying who you want for one game to save the universe.

And the answer is Vince.

Peak Vince was that season, after he left.

As others have said, it's Vince Carter easily.

BTW, why are there lots of people looking at the other side of the court on that picture above?

I don't believe anyone who watched them both play could ever consider this a question.

What a joke.

This is purely disrespectful

Kind of feel bad for Bulls fans getting all excited about DD this year. His early season hot shooting is done now and his numbers overall are just ok. Not a guy you want to count on. It's funny of course that demar is being treated as a shoo-in allstar for performing exactly like he did in Toronto where he was life and death to make the allstar team every year.

As for this thread, come on now. Vince was far better on both ends of the court.

Top5 BPM seasons career:

Carter 7.6, 6.0, 5.5, 5.1, 4.5
Demar 3.1, 3.0, 2.8, 2.5, 2.0*

It's not remotely close.

P.s. That last 2.0 season by Demar is his current year with the Bulls. Despite all the hype he's getting this might not even end up being a top 5 season in his career.

Vince by a mile. This isn’t really a fair comparison. And I’m a DeMar fan.

Duffman100 wrote:

Johnny Bball wrote:I'm going to take the guy that every likes to be around, works hard with what he was given and hasn't left his team and his teammates hanging out to dry. 100 out of 100 times.

I think the idea of Peak is that he isn't giving up on his teammates.

You're saying who you want for one game to save the universe.

And the answer is Vince.

this is so funny, because a lot of times when i talk about comparisons i always go

"aliens come down to earth one day and say 'pick one person to make two free throws in a row or we blow up the world"

(btw i always pick steve nash, but bird probably comes in second)

Sixerscan wrote:Vince did it in the playoffs too. We've seen this before with Demar, if he wants to change that narrative he'll have the opportunity in May.

You can argue Vince's peak was that first season with the Nets after he quit on the Raptors, also.

You can, but I would argue his peak season was in 2001 when he went toe-to-toe with Iverson in the playoffs. Had he made the buzzer beater shot in Game 7, the Raptors likely also beat Milwaukee and make the NBA Finals. He had slightly (razor thin margin) better stats in 2005 in NJ than 2001 in TOR, but he also had one of the best PG's ever (Kidd) passing him the ball.

Re Vince vs. DeRozan, Vince was more versatile, a WAY better scorer from the 3. Add that Vince was also the better defender and it's no contest. Add further Vince's playoff stats blows away DeRozan's and the gap widens even more. Vince by a mile.

Demar is and almost been a good offensive player. We will see how well he holds up in the playoffs. Zach Lavine off loading a lot of the scoring will help

But I can’t remember but when they played the cavaliers. Did demar have to guard Lebron? If he did. Lebron causes a bunch of pressure and would cause demar to use extensive energy on the defensive end. And that affects his ability on the offense end.

The best way to slow an offensive player. Is to make them work on defense. It takes a toll. Having to score and play defense. Is demar gonna to have to guard Kd or harden? Can the bulls hide demar? But they hiding Zach also.