Guard Fred VanVleet’s career in the nba It’s worthy of a movie.
After four years with the Wichita State Shockersin which he averaged 10.2 points, 4.5 assists and 3.33 rebounds after 141 games, the point guard applied for the 2016 Draft, but was not drafted by any team.
The Rockford, Ill., native I thought I could be chosen by any of the 30 franchises since he had been named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year in two seasons and therefore held a party during the recruitment process. Although the Draft ended without hearing his name, Van Vleet assured that he would bet on himself.
“Obviously, getting drafted is every kid’s dream growing up, but at the end of the day it’s about making money,” VanVleet said at his 2016 draft party. “Honestly, My story wouldn’t make sense if I had been recruited. I’ve always been against the grain, it won’t stop now”.
vanvleet signed a two-year, $1.4 million contract with the Toronto Raptors as an undrafted rookie and combined his appearances with the D League team and the NBA team. As a rookie, his participation was minimal and his first year he averaged 2.9 points and 1.1 rebounds in 7.9 minutes on the floor after participating in 37 games, all coming off the bench.
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From substitute to essential part in the Raptors championship
After two years as a substitute, VanVleet left the substitute bench and started 28 regular-season games from 2018-19, when he was an essential part of the squad that won the only championship in the history of the Canadian franchise. Before the season, the point guard signed an agreement that would keep him for two more years with the Toronto organization. ‘Steady Freddy’ responded to his new salary with 11 points and 4.8 assists in the regular season and averages of 8.0 points and 2.6 assists during the postseason. VanVleet was one of seven Raptors players who participated in all the games of the championship run.
The Larry O’Brien trophy cemented him as an undisputed starter under head coach Nick Nurse and since then he was part of the starting five for the Raptors in the 240 games he played between 2019 and 2023. One year after winning the NBA championship, VanVleet signed the most lucrative extension ever for an undrafted. The Raptors paid him $85 million for four seasons.
VanVleet has his name branded in gold letters in the Raptors’ record books since he is the basketball player with the record for most points scored in a game. On February 2, 2021, the guard recorded 54 points against the Orlando Magic after going 17-for-23, 11-for-14 from 3-point range and nine free throws.
In the 2021-22 season, he was invited to the NBA All-Star Game for the first time. In that year, VanVleet posted the best points and assists per game of his career up to then, with 20.3 and 6.7, respectively.
Now, signed for 130 million dollars with the Houston Rockets and with it made NBA history by receiving the largest contract for an undrafted player in the Draft.