Atlanta Hawks: Vince Carter Wants to Appear in All 82 Games in 2019-20

A quick look at recent comments by Vince Carter of the Atlanta Hawks on potentially playing in all 82 games of the 2019-20 regular season.

Last year with the Atlanta Hawks, ageless wonder Vince Carter played in 76 games – his highest games total since the 2013-14 season with the Dallas Mavericks, which marked his age-37 season.

Beyond the sheer number of games played, Carter was an extremely important part of the team’s rotation, and it seems likely that that will be the case in 2019-20 as well.

Recently, Carter helped the Hawks win a preseason game in Madison Square Garden in which he dropped 17 points, including five three-pointers. Carter was clutch, and his defensive communication and ability to be in the right place at the right time makes him an extremely important rotation player for this team.

According to reporting by ESPN’s Malika Andrews, Carter is aiming to be ready to play in all 82 games of the regular season in 2019-20 – hopefully giving fans everything they could ask for in Carter’s final season in the NBA.

“I want to make sure I am available for every game,” Carter told ESPN. “Obviously, it is Coach’s decision, but I want to keep my body right so I can do that.”

Indeed, Carter will have to take supreme care of himself during the season to make this possible, but this is someone who will have played across four decades when he suits up in 2020, so seemingly anything is possible for Vinsanity.

Though Carter hasn’t played in all 82 games since the 2006-07 season, when he was a member of the New Jersey Nets and made his final All-Star game, playing in each game this season would truly be an incredible way to go out for the most durable player in NBA history.

While resting might also make sense (especially if the Hawks are in the playoff hunt), let’s hope Carter is able to live up to this statement next season.