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Carter shooting for a Magic homecoming

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By ANTONIO GONZALEZ

The Associated Press

Published: October 28, 2009

ORLANDO - It didn't sink in for Michelle Carter-Scott that her son had finally landed a job near home until the first time he showed up on her couch without notice.

Vince Carter doesn't always call ahead.

"They're all pop-ins," she joked. "He just comes in and acts like he lives there."

The blockbuster NBA trade this summer in which the Magic acquired the eight-time All-Star from the New Jersey Nets has had major ramifications for the Carter family, a long-awaited homecoming realized.

All the hoopla - family, friends and a franchise expecting him to be the missing piece to a championship - has made for a frenzied buildup in anticipation of Carter's regular-season debut tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Carter, 32, is back where it all began. He played at Mainland High in Daytona Beach before starring at the University of North Carolina.

"I have to make sure all my friends, family and all the people who are excited about me being home understand that as exciting as it is, I still have to go to work and do what I have to do," he said. "But I have an appreciation for after games and stuff, when everybody can come over to my house."

Carter has spent most of his career dreaming of being in this position. He has lived for years in Orlando, about a 45-minute drive from his hometown of Daytona Beach.

Being back full-time has its perks. The home-cooked meals. The short commute. Not to mention curling up in his own bed at the end of a long day.

"It never gets old," Carter said.

In seven seasons in Toronto, Carter became known as Air Canada for his high-flying dunks. But his popularity dwindled as the Raptors struggled. In 2004, he was traded to New Jersey.

With the Nets rebuilding, Carter was traded to the Magic for guards Courtney Lee and Rafer Alston and forward Tony Battie. Orlando also received forward Ryan Anderson in the deal.

Carter has never been past the second round of the playoffs. Expectations in Orlando are dramatically different after losing to the Lakers in five games in last season's NBA Finals.

The Magic enter this season with a title-or-bust mentality, and they're leaning on Carter to get the franchise's first championship. Carter is filling the spot vacated by Hedo Turkoglu, a fan favorite who led the team in scoring in the finals last season.

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