Vince Carter had a strong message for fans criticizing NBA players—especially those sitting at the end of the bench. Speaking aggressively about player respect, Carter reminded fans that every man in the league is elite, whether they play 40 minutes or not.

On a recent board, Carter explained why he speaks up for players. He said most fans don’t realize the level of work and talent it takes just to make a roster. Bench players, he pointed out, compete fairly against stars in practice, and average fans don’t understand what NBA athletes go through or how high the level of competition is.

“The everyday fan, I want y’all to understand, just because you look at the end of that bench and you see that guy that doesn’t play, you’re like, I’m going to kill him,” Carter said. “Nah, he will

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