Is there any player in the NBA that embodies his franchise more than Fred VanVleet? From his early career struggles to prove himself, to his newly minted NBA Finals heroism, to his increasingly bright future, VanVleet couldn’t be a more perfect representation of the only NBA franchise he’s played for, the Toronto Raptors.
The Early Years: Earning Respect
You can’t do a season review of FVV without understanding his past and how it’s shaped him. Despite being an All-State first team selection while playing for Auburn High School in his hometown of Rockford, Illinois, VanVleet was only being recruited by mid-major schools.