As Vince turns 40, an appreciation

It was fitting that on the night before he turned 40, Vince Carter logged 30 minutes while chipping in seven points, three rebounds, and three assists in a Memphis Grizzlies' victory over a Toronto Raptors franchise he put on the map.

Carter's superstar days are long gone, but his contributing days continue.

It can be argued that he perhaps never wanted to be the face of NBA. Christened as the "next" one by ESPN magazine way back in 1999, the true peaks of his superstardom came in a four-year period at the turn of the century with the Raptors.

The franchise rose and fell with Carter - the latter due to his injuries and perceived ambivalence, punctuated when he left via one of the worst trades in professional sports history. The rekindling of his powers with the New Jersey Nets from 2004-09 was replete with the acrobatics that made him famous, but it was clear by then Carter was never going to be the next coming of fellow Tar Heel alumnus Michael Jordan.

That's okay, and it has been for several years now. It's what followed Carter's All-Star seasons (10 straight, including six voted in by fans) that makes his NBA journey all the more compelling.

As Carter turns the big 4-0 on Thursday, it's nearly impossible to find in the annals of NBA history a wing player who seamlessly transitioned from go-to superstar to more-than-content role player over a prolonged period (As a big man, Kevin Garnett's intensity and mentorship is noted).

Related: NBA releases 40 unseen Vince Carter dunks on 40th birthday

Paul Pierce, a member of the same 1998 draft as Carter, was still an alpha dog until four years ago, and then again in haunting the Raptors for two consecutive playoff springs. Others who played beyond 40 - Hall of Famers like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, John Stockton, and Tim Duncan - remained key players on their teams.

Basketball is not an old man's game. Some lucky MLBers, NFL kickers, and fitness-nut hockey players can ply their trade into their 40s, but once time starts robbing muscles and tendons of lateral quickness, NBA days get numbered.

Conditioning and advances in medicine aside, however, it's Carter's willingness to be a team guy that's extended his career.

"I’m not going to sit here and say it was a quick change," he told Chris Mannix, then of SI, in 2015. "When you get in that role, you do think, 'Oh I don’t know if I can do this.' But you have to give it a real chance. I did and it got better and better."

While he no longer routinely plays over 35 minutes a game, Carter's still out there for the Memphis Grizzlies for 24 a night, contributing to a team in playoff position and even flashing his old athleticism. While floor time and scoring output has obviously dropped, the numbers behind the numbers have stayed consistent.

"I'm very appreciative and thankful," Carter told me when he was a member of the Dallas Mavericks in 2014. "I'm glad I'm able to still be around and play against these guys."

What lies ahead for Carter remains to be seen. He's stated he wants to play 20 years in the NBA, which would indicate he's got one more season left. He's also an unrestricted free agent this summer, and at full health would probably be welcomed by several teams - maybe even the Raptors.

This week, the Memphis Commercial Appeal's Ronald Tillery asked Carter to briefly describe each chapter of his career:

Toronto: "Where it started."

New Jersey: "Where I was revived."

Orlando: "Opportunity to play home."

Phoenix: "The next stop."

Dallas: "Another opportunity."

Memphis: "Alive again. Not that I was dead or down and out. This is just new life. It's been a great fit. I knew (upon signing a three-year deal) I was rolling into 40 ... it's not about my age. It’s about me loving the game and competing at a high level. I took the time to understand who I am as a player and what I want to accomplish."

Despite what may feel like two careers in one, the final sum should result in one final location: Springfield.