There’s just a sense you get when you’re around Fred VanVleet for any length of time. A vibe. One of those hard-to-define feelings that you’re around someone with some pretty special qualities.
It goes far beyond being able to shoot a basketball or dribble or pass.
It’s a confidence, a presence.
There’s just something about him — something coach Dwane Casey used to talk about six years ago, and VanVleet’s Raptors coaches and teammates mention today.
He’s a leader, a force, able to create a dynamic within a disparate group of athletes as they try to mould themselves into a team.