The question was put to Vince Carter. Did he feel like he was getting back to being Vince Carter?

"I'm Vince Carter now. I believe I belong here and that's the motivation to come back and play the same," Carter said. "I actually think I'm a better player now than I was then."

"Then" was when Carter was the toast of the NBA world. He already had established himself as a legit star but in his third season, he exploded into the national consciousness with an awesome display that made him the 2000 Slam Dunk champ. Posters, highlight reel clips. Couldn't get enough of "Vin-Sanity."

Then the left knee started hurting and throbbing. Surgery ended his 2001-02 season, including the playoffs. He was roundly criticized before the extent of his injury was known. Then with two more knee injuries and an ankle injury, he played in just 43 games last season, averaged 20.6 points, his lowest total since his rookie year.

Again, Carter insists he is better than ever. "In all aspects of the game," he said. "I'm smarter, I'm stronger in the mind and the body, I think my shot's better. I can get to the rim, I'm finishing any way I want to. I didn't get to play much so I had some time to rest.

"I'm stronger in the mind, if you're strong in your mind it really enhances everything else," Carter said. "I just feel confident in myself every time I step on the court, as I did then, but it's on another level now. I know I'm capable of doing the things I've done in the past. I believe I'm better than ever."