EA Signs Vince Carter (IGN Article)

[joemimic]

Electronic Arts announced today that it has signed four-time NBA All-Star Vince Carter to appear on the cover of its upcoming title NBA Live 2004. And, the company has also signed the third pick in this year's NBA Draft, Carmelo Anthony, to appear on the cover of NCAA March Madness 2004.
Vince Carter:

"Being a part of the EA Sports team is a tremendous honor and a terrific moment in my basketball career. As a longtime gamer, it's a thrill to be asked to represent the Freestyle Revolution that EA Sports has brought to NBA Live."
Carmelo Anthony:

"There's no better way to celebrate last year's national championship than to represent Syracuse and EA Sports on the cover of NCAA March Madness 2004. This game is so unique because it brings fans all the excitement, tradition, and strategy of college basketball that I was fortunate to experience last year. It's a great accomplishment for me to be able to appear on the cover of this game cutting down the nets from the Final Four."
Both games are scheduled to release this fall. NBA Live will appear on the Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameCube and PC, while March Madness will be available on the Xbox and PlayStation 2 only. Check back to IGN as we discover more details about both of these highly-anticipated titles.

[malice_05]

ya we realized he was on live 2004 about 1 week n a half ago.

[emadhn15]

Although I am happy that ea have signed vince carter for a 4 year deal, I am also eager to know why did ea sign him since he had a terrible season! I guess they r doing this only because he has alot of fans!

[Andrew]

The fact that Vince was voted to the All-Star team despite a limited appearance in the first half of the season speaks volumes about his popularity.

[Fresh8]

PROPAGANDA!!! EA must be trying to repromote Vansanity to the Fans!! lol

Jokes man!

[malice_05]

Payton is the man for Live 2004.
He's had a good season (compared to Carter) on milwaukee and Seattle. Now's he trying to win it all with the Lakers.
He's my choice.
Carter was injured and i aint hatin on him but since he didn't really do anything last season, should performance be looked past because of popularity?

[Metsis]

Well, what did Payton do last season??? Pretty much as much as Carter, so don't give them a hard time for the decision.

Vince got voted into the all-star as a starter and I don't think he would have been selected otherwise.

Vince or Payton, both are a bad choice in my mind. Going along with one of the final cadidates would have been nice. Maybe seeing David Robinson on the cover would have been great.

But the cover really doesn't matter... It's the game that matters.

[Vins15]

Well, what did Payton do last season??? Pretty much as much as Carter, so don't give them a hard time for the decision.

Vince got voted into the all-star as a starter and I don't think he would have been selected otherwise.

Vince or Payton, both are a bad choice in my mind. Going along with one of the final cadidates would have been nice. Maybe seeing David Robinson on the cover would have been great.

But the cover really doesn't matter... It's the game that matters.

same..i didn't like the cover of Madden football 2003 but i bought the game anywayz knowing the game would be rili fun...

[joemimic]

Well, what did Payton do last season??? Pretty much as much as Carter, so don't give them a hard time for the decision.

Umm Payton played 80 games last year? 20/3/8 on the year he did ALOT more then Vince Carter last year while helping the Bucks to a playoff run

43 games for vince 20/4/3.

If you're gonna talk have some truth to what you're sayin man come on now.

[Vins15]

Well, what did Payton do last season??? Pretty much as much as Carter, so don't give them a hard time for the decision.

Umm Payton played 80 games last year? 20/3/8 on the year he did ALOT more then Vince Carter last year while helping the Bucks to a playoff run

43 games for vince 20/4/3.

If you're gonna talk have some truth to what you're sayin man come on now.

well no offense but Metsis is right he's on a talented team and can't help them get past the first rd...Payton is only better cuz he played more games but anywayz here is the stat comparision

Vince Carter Gary Payton

PPG 20.6 PPG 20.4
RPG 4.4 RPG 4.2
APG 3.3 APG 8.3
SPG 1.12 SPG 1.66
BPG .95 BPG .25
FG% .467 FG% .454
FT% .806 FT% .710
3P% .344 3P% .297
MPG 34.2 MPG 40.1

The only thing Payton is better is playing more games more minutes..and more assist..i mean that's wut a pg is suppose to do...and more steals..he isn't called the glove for nothing...he does not have a good fg percentage and his ft perfectage for a PG is just terrible...

Here's Vince stat compared to Marbury...

Stephon Marbury Vince Carter

PPG 22.3 PPG 20.6
RPG 3.2 RPG 4.4
APG 8.1 APG 3.3
SPG 1.33 SPG 1.12
BPG .25 BPG .95
FG% .439 FG% .467
FT% .803 FT% .806
3P% .301 3P% .344
MPG 40.0 MPG 34.2

again Marbury played more minutes and games then Vince...but as stats show their stats are close...cept that Carter played less games...and u ppl just criticize Carter for injury..look at the numbers even when he's playing through injury...they are about the same if not a little bit worse then Marbury is this season...

[joemimic]

Carter is the Raps franchise player, any season where you play 43 games is a disappointing season, if Payton is that terrible then why is everyone shitting their pants over him going with Malone to LA?


75---60---43 <-----Vince's games played total the past 3 years

Yes his popularity is undenyable but he didn't have a better season then Payton last year, playing in barely half your teams game isnt a better season.

[VC15]

It's about time. I thought Vince Carter should've been on the cover after his breakout season... However, I'm really happy that he is on the cover now... I really don't care who had a better season last year, Gary or Vince (yes, I'm on first name basis with the 2). I love the glove and air canada. I would've been happy either way.

Having said that, Vince is one of the Best in the NBA (ofcourse, this is just my opinion). Yes, he was injured last season... and the season before... I'm just waiting for him to be healthy again. Once he is, he'll remind everyone why he is one of the most popular bball players in the world.

Well Done EASports! I applaud your decision!

BT.

[Metsis]

Umm Payton played 80 games last year? 20/3/8 on the year he did ALOT more then Vince Carter last year while helping the Bucks to a playoff run

43 games for vince 20/4/3.

If you're gonna talk have some truth to what you're sayin man come on now.

I was just saying that neither of these players did anything too grand last season. Payton did play pretty much the way he's always played and Vince missed a whole lot of games. My point was that either one of these players would be a bad choice for the cover in my mind.

And why are we so intrigued by the fact that Payton and Malone are going LA??? Cause the team already has all the guns they need to win a title as they have already proved. Now that they have two established (legends would be a better word) players even more, well it's easy to see just why it seems troubling.

Minnys got a lot better this off-season too and Sactown got Brad Miller, but I don't know how much will he help the team next season, but it was a good move in the long run cause Divac isn't getting any younger.

My point was that Marbury really did break out this season while Payton played as he always has and Vince had a busted season with missing half the games.

They should choose players that are at the top of their game... Payton in the mid 90's would have been an excellent choice or Vince a couple of years ago. Garnett was on the cover of 2001 I believe and Duncan was too a couple years ago wasn't he??? T-Mac or Kobe would be good too.

I think will have to make come back to get back into the good books with me. Which is a pretty sure thing if he can stay healthy this coming season. He's a great player, there's no doubt about that...

[Metaphysical3]

why is everyone shitting their pants over him going with Malone to LA?

Because the Lakers still have these guys named Kobe & Shaq.

[DipSetVC]

I think it's great that Vince is finally getting a positive response these days, after helping Team USA qualify and maybe win the gold medal next year and Athens (Who knows what will happen with the Kobe). Now being the coverboy for the best-selling basketball game ever also helps and I can only hope he will return to form this upcoming season.

[emadhn15]

if Payton is that terrible then why is everyone shitting their pants over him going with Malone to LA?

well then, if vince is that terrible, then imagine what will everyone do if vc goes to LA alongside malone!!!

VC is a very excellent player, but because of his injury, alot of people now think that he is no good and an overated player.. instead of arguing that VC is not an overated player, I will just have to wait untill the next season and let time prove all of u (vince haters) wrong,,,,

[Metsis]

if Payton is that terrible then why is everyone shitting their pants over him going with Malone to LA?

well then, if vince is that terrible, then imagine what will everyone do if vc goes to LA alongside malone!!!

VC is a very excellent player, but because of his injury, alot of people now think that he is no good and an overated player.. instead of arguing that VC is not an overated player, I will just have to wait untill the next season and let time prove all of u (vince haters) wrong,,,,

Carters game numbers have dropped these last two years. I need to see him play well and long next season to really believe that he's still got the goods.

Ever heard of a player like Grant Hill??? He still got game, if he can get on the court... But I wouldn't put him on Live covers now.