Vince Carter

When Toronto Raptors swingman Vince Carter blew the roof off Oakland Arena on February 12, 2000, the landscape of NBA superstardom changed. So, too, did the trajectory of Canadian basketball and the sheer concept of what society considered humans capable of above the rim. With his third dunk of an already unforgettable slam dunk contest, the 23-year-old icon gathers steam from beyond the perimeter, leaps into the air from just outside the restricted area, then unleashes an Eastbay-inspired, through-the-legs alley-oop to the delight of millions world-wide. It’s over, ladies and gentlemen. Or has it just begun?