Denver Nuggets- Where Are They Now: Anthony Carter
When you bring up Anthony Carter’s name to long-time Nuggets fans, you often get a mixed reaction.
The ‘glass half empty’ fan will quickly point out his late game turnover versus the Lakers in game one of the 2008-09 Western Conference Finals. Denver were trailing, but had the ball down 99-101 with 30 seconds remaining. Then head coach George Karl entrusted veteran back-up point guard Anthony Carter to inbound the basketball.
With a chance to level to scores late in a crucial road playoff game, Carter threw an errant pass that was intercepted by Lakers forward Trevor Ariza. The Lakers stalled for the entirety of their allocated 24 seconds as the Nuggets tried not to foul, knowing they were down by only one possession with the chance to get the ball back.
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With 10 seconds remaining in the game, Kobe Bryant was fouled on a jumper attempt by JR Smith. In typical Bryant fashion, he calmly iced a pair of free throws to help the Lakers escape a gigantic hole by pulling out a game one victory in LA, 105-103.
The ‘glass half full’ type fan may point to another play, this one a much more positive memory.
During a mid-season game in 2007, the Nuggets found themselves down by a point to the Houston Rockets in double overtime. The game, which was being nationally televised, had four seconds remaining when Carter caught the ball at the three point line off an in-bounds pass.
He took one dribble, threw up a pump fake and stepped between two Rocket defenders. He launched a pretty floater that went through as time expired to give the Nuggets the one point victory in double overtime.
The fact of the matter is, the man affectionately known as AC provided Denver with five serviceable seasons as back up to both Allen Iverson and later, Chauncey Billups.
While Carter departed the Nuggets in 2011, and hasn’t played in the NBA since 2012, he has remained around the game.
Lets take a look at his time in Denver, as well as where he is today.