Denver Nuggets- Where Are They Now: Anthony Carter

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Carter went undrafted in the 1998 NBA draft and subsequently played for the Yakima Sun Kings of the CBA. His one season there was enough for the Heat  to sign him for the 1999-2000 NBA season. Carter spent four very solid seasons in Miami, and during his In his final year with the Heat, he averaged 41. points and 4.1 assists in 20 minutes of playing time.

In 2003, he went west and signed with the San Antonio Spurs. Carter appeared in just five games for the Spurs before an injury forced him to miss the rest of the year.

Upon returning to the court, AC signed with the Timberwolves on a two year deal, however he struggled to find the form he had in Miami, averaging just 2.7 points and 2.4 assists per contest his first season with the organisation in 2004.

By 2006 Carter was plying his trade with Italian club Scafati Basket, before, the Nuggets offered him an NBA life-line.

Carter first came to the Nuggets at the back end of the 2006-07 season, playing just two games.

It was the following season however, that AC cemented himself as an NBA player. He appeared in 70 games for Denver, and averaged career highs in points, assists, steals, rebounds and minutes played. His 7.8 points, 5.5 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals helped Denver to a 45-37 record.

Carter was a key member of the ‘Thuggets’ era in Denver that featured the likes of Carmelo Anthony, JR Smith, Kenyon Martin, Allen Iverson and head coach George Karl.

That core group made the playoffs for ten consecutive season from 2004 through 2013, and Carter was a team member in half of those appearances. That run included the 2008/09 season when Denver made the Western Conference Finals.

Then head coach George Karl had a lot of faith in Carter, sometimes that worked in favor of Denver, other times not so much. Case in point, the buzzer beating double OT winner, and the crucial turnover late in game one of the 2009 Western Conference Finals.

AC was a below average NBA athlete, possessed an average shot and was just okay defensively. But he remained in the good books of George Karl with his ability to run an offense and generally take care of the basketball. In a team full of emotional characters, Carter was the veteran voice who offered up a calming voice over an often chaotic team.

In 2011, Carter was involved in the Carmelo Anthony deal that sent ‘Melo to New York and ushered in a new era in Denver.

After a brief stints with New York and Toronto, Carter rejoined the Nuggets for training camp in for the 2012/13 season. He was cut before the season began, as his on-court career came to an end.