'A slap in the face'

Carter critical of players offering All-Star spots to Jordan

Vince Carter is making no apologies about being an All-Star starter despite seeing limited action this season. Ron Turenne/NBAE/ Getty Images

TORONTO (AP) -- Vince Carter never considered giving up his starting spot to Michael Jordan in the All-Star Game, saying it would be rude to fans who voted for the Raptors' star.

Carter was the third-leading vote-getter for the Feb. 9 All-Star Game in Atlanta despite playing in just 10 games before the final ballots were cast because of knee problems.

Carter has taken some grief this week for not offering his spot to Jordan, who was added to the Eastern Conference team as a reserve and likely will be making his final All-Star Game appearance.

Allen Iverson offered his spot to Jordan last week during a telephone call. Tracy McGrady, Carter's cousin, publicly offered to step aside Thursday. Jordan declined their offers.

"Everybody is entitled to their opinion," Carter said Friday. "I think sometimes they just say it without sitting back and thinking, 'OK, why is he making that decision?' There is a reason why, and it's the million-plus people that voted for me."

When asked for his thoughts on the gestures from Iverson and McGrady, Carter said, "Congratulations to them."

Carter, who has missed 33 games this season, makes no apologies for being in the All-Star Game.

"Some of you guys say I shouldn't be there," he said. "That's fine, but I think I owe it to the fans to be out there on that starting lineup, for one, because they voted me in with the amount of games that I played.

"And then to really say, 'Thanks, but no thanks.' Once again, that's a slap in the face to the fans. I might as well not show up then, in my opinion."

Jordan does not begrudge Carter for wanting to start.

"It's a Catch-22," Jordan said. "If he gives up his spot, some fans will be disappointed. Even me accepting Tracy's or Allen's spot would make fans look bad. That's not the way it's meant to be."

Washington coach Doug Collins, however, suggested that someone step aside for Jordan. Milwaukee Bucks coach George Karl praised McGrady for offering to give up his spot, then said, "I'm kind of ticked that Vince Carter didn't think of it."

There have been players in the past who have given up starting spots. John Havlicek started in 1978 when Collins stepped aside. Tim Hardaway sat in 1992 so Magic Johnson could start.

 

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