Venerable Vince Carter is the NBA’s grand old man, and his grandest times came in a Nets uniform.

Carter, who brought his Kings into Brooklyn on Wednesday night, said he’d love to have that uniform hanging from the rafters in Barclays Center. Just not yet.

“Of course,” Carter said of having his jersey retired by the Nets, for whom he played five high-flying seasons. “When you hear people talk about it, of course. For years to come, you walk in here and see your name in the rafters in an arena, a professional arena, that’s your dream come true for every player.

“It’s a goal for guys. It means you’ve had a phenomenal career for that team. I would never tell them no, I’ll tell you that.”

Carter has played 20 years in the NBA, this one with Sacramento, but arguably he had his greatest years with the Nets.

New Jersey acquired him from Toronto in December 2004, and saw his production spike from 15.9 points to 27.5 the rest of that season. In five years, he helped the Nets make the playoffs three times and averaged 23.6 points.

Though Carter’s returns to Toronto usually saw bile — the Raptors fans accusing him of forcing his way out of Canada — Sunday’s visit saw a warm welcome. He even said he would love to sign a one-day contract in Toronto before he retires.

But on Wednesday, there was no need for reconciliation. Carter came back to play before Nets fans who had always adored him. Carter, however, didn’t get in the game as the Nets turned a blowout into a nail-biter before losing 104-99.

“It’s always been nothing but love here and very warm,” Carter said. “I can’t compare the two. It wasn’t the same at all. It’s always been great coming here to this building, a very warm welcome and still see the Nets jerseys. It’s always cool. I don’t care where I go, it’s always cool to come here and see the Nets jerseys, to go to Toronto and see the old Raptors’ jerseys. That’s what it’s all about, coming back to that arena and seeing that jersey.

“It was great. Sunday was great. It was different than all the other years to be honest. It’s like — I know you all saw Magic [Johnson] and Isaiah [Thomas] — it was like that moment. And there was not much more that had to be said. I know Magic said what he said, and then all of a sudden they embrace. That was the feeling. … It wasn’t that bad last year. Then it just gets progressively better. So might as well come back for a couple more years.”

And Carter, who turns 41 on Jan. 26, said he intends to come back for at least another year. Despite a narrative going around the league, he insisted he’s not ready to retire and ride off into the NBA sunset.

“I’m going to play another year, for sure. I have to. I feel good,” Carter said. “I’m sure you can think of the last time I was asked, I probably said two more years. I just go until the body — or me mentally — says don’t, until I mentally don’t want to prepare to play the right way, if that makes sense.”

When informed that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady wants to play until he’s 45, Carter immediately replied he won’t try to match that feat.

“No! I know that for a fact, I don’t think I can make it to 45,” Carter said. “Now watch, I’ll be sitting here at 45. I’ll be 41 soon so it’s not that far-fetched, I guess. But, no, I definitely want to play one more and then we’ll see from there.”

Ex-Nets president Rod Thorn often praised Carter’s passing, and Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson recalled seeing him in a clinic and being dazzled by his basketball IQ. It’s that IQ, preparation and professionalism that have allowed him to last so long — and that he’s trying to pass on to younger teammates, even getting his lip split open by former Duke standout Harry Giles in a pregame workout on Wednesday.

“It’s a part of my routine. When there’s a time where I don’t want to do that stuff, that’s when I walk away because I’m cheating myself and would be more apt to get hurt, and I can’t afford to get hurt,” Carter said. “I’d hate myself if I got hurt off something stupid, meaning I didn’t prepare correctly. That’s cheating the game.”