He once was known as "half-man, half-amazing." But in recent years, Vince Carter looked to be going at half-speed.

Not long ago, Carter was one of basketball's brightest stars. He was a key player as Team USA won the gold medal at the 2000 Olympics. He had a spectacular 2000-01 season for the Toronto Raptors, averaging 27.6 points.

But then came knee and ankle injuries that forced Carter to miss 61 games the past two seasons. The Toronto arena should have been known as the Canada Centre because the guy who put the Air in it was grounded.

Carter joined the United States for the Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament as an afterthought. He was named as an injury replacement for Kobe Bryant and is not one of nine players assured of an Olympic spot for next year.

Against this backdrop, Carter is thriving. In the first three days of the tournament, he has been the most exciting player at Roberto Clemente Coliseum.

Carter has gone 15-for-22, including 6-for-10 from three-point range and averaged 14 points a game. He has had a bevy of dunks worthy of being replayed on the dimly lighted screens in the corners of the arena.

"I belong here," said Carter, who scored 13 points in his team's 98-69 win Thursday night against Venezuela. "I have that motivation to come back. I think I'm a better player now than then."