Fred VanVleet Eager to Build On Championship Season

Fred VanVleet has heard questions of skepticism his entire career. It was no different during a press conference for the Toronto Raptors Japan games.

“You are one of the shorter players in the league. Do you have to train differently because of your height?” the reporter asked.

Pascal Siakam, who was sitting beside VanVleet, burst out laughing. The question was premised on the same doubts that have followed VanVleet as an NBA player. That the Raptors point guard is too small, can’t score and won’t have a successful professional career.

Despite these questions being repetitive, VanVleet knows exactly how to respond. It is not with anger or belligerence. It is with the subtle language that reminds us the pivotal role he plays on the defending 2018/2019 NBA Champion Toronto Raptors.

“I mean there is a million different things you can do, obviously at the NBA level you gotta be able to shoot three’s, so work on your shooting,” VanVleet said. “Just be fearless. It doesn’t matter.”

If Kyle Lowry is the rock of the team, and Pascal Siakam is the rising star, Fred VanVleet plays the igniter role. The unafraid guard who comes off the bench, providing quality minutes and outplaying his competition.

At 6 feet, 195 pounds, VanVleet at first glance does not appear intimidating. But a few possessions playing against the pesky guard and suddenly the opinions surrounding this player change.

Just ask Kevin Durant, the two time NBA champion and Finals MVP for the Golden State Warriors, who VanVleet guarded during Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Despite a size difference of nine inches, VanVleet showcased his dynamic defensive skills in the post against one of the game’s prolific scorers.

“He’s going to be in the league for a long, long, time,” said Durant. “However long he wanna play he’s going to be in the league. And as an undrafted player, a lot of young guys should be looking at Fred VanVleet as an inspiration.”

(Source: Second Spectrum)

Steph Curry is also aware of VanVleet’s hustle that he brings to his play. The focal point in Raptors head coach Nick Nurse’s “box and one” defense, VanVleet’s primary defensive assignment in the Finals was Curry. When VanVleet was guarding Curry during Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the Warriors point guard only recorded four points on 1-for-6 shooting in  33 possessions.

Regardless of Curry’s attempt to mock the strategy by wearing a “box and one” hoodie this off-season, the Raptors guard got his attention.

“He’s a gamer. He hit some big shots,” said Curry. “Not just in the face of pressure, he hit a lot of daggers that never seemed to panic when the ball was in his hands.”

The culmination of VanVleet’s performance in the Raptors championship-clinching Game 6, where he scored 22 points, was far removed from how the point guard started the postseason. Despite averaging 8.0 points per game for his career, VanVleet had a personal-best season, averaging 11.0 points per game on 41 percent shooting.

During the start of the playoffs, VanVleet under performed. In the first 15 games of the playoffs, the Raptors guard was shooting 25.6 percent from the field, with a bleak 19.5 percent from beyond the arc. He went 1-for-14 from three point range in the entire second round series against the Philadelphia 76ers. In Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals versus the Milwaukee Bucks, VanVleet would shoot 1-for-11 from the field.

The rest of the story would be etched into the annals of Toronto Raptors history. The liability on the court would turn into a machine who made critical baskets. In games four through six of the Eastern Conference Finals, VanVleet would shoot 82 percent from three point range.

During the NBA Finals, VanVleet would average 14 points per game over the course of six games, including 12 points in the fourth quarter of Game 6. His defensive rating of 102.9 in the playoffs was ranked third among the Raptors eight-man rotation, behind Serge Ibaka and Norman Powell. The fervently tough guard even lost a tooth en route to his first NBA Championship.

(Source: NBA.com)

It is unsurprising that the expectations for VanVleet heading into the 2019/2020 season are high. In the Raptors 118-110 loss to the Houston Rockets in Japan, VanVleet recorded a 10-point, 10-assist double-double. Over the course of the first two preseason games, the backup point guard generated 15 assists, exemplifying his stellar ball movement skills.

But with the recent news of Lowry signing a one-year, $31 million extension, the chances of VanVleet transitioning into the starting point guard position are slim at the moment. VanVleet has made it known that he wants to be a starting point guard on the Raptors. But whatever role the 25-year-old has been given, he never backs down to the challenge of performing above expectations.

“I like to go out there and put everything on the line every time I lace ’em up, and that’s something that gives me a competitive advantage every time,” said VanVleet. 

VanVleet not only brings the championship swagger but also an altruistic nature to his persona. Before training camp, VanVleet was handing out knapsacks filled with school supplies to children in his hometown of Rockford, Illinois. He has partnered with the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto in order to raise awareness about the importance of renovating SickKids.

These endearing qualities on and off the court showcase the commendable character VanVleet brings to Toronto and the NBA. It is a powerful reminder that no matter what the doubters say, an athlete can achieve greatness through perseverance.

As the Raptors embark on their championship title defense, VanVleet will be spotlighted on a team that is looking to prove they belong as a top franchise even without Kawhi Leonard. While the critical questions will continue towards VanVleet, he will soon have a ring to signify the impact a shorter player could have on a championship franchise.

“If you’re good enough, you’ll find a way. Height doesn’t mean everything.”