Houston Rockets' Fred VanVleet Featured in ESPN's 2023 NBA Rank
Coming in at No. 56 on ESPN's NBA Rank, Fred VanVleet makes the list after signing with the Houston Rockets in the offseason. The guard dropped significantly from last season, where he came in at No. 38 following an all-star appearance the season before.
VanVleet, who signed a three-year, $129 million contract this offseason, is in a spot to lead a young Rockets lineup this year.
"The Rockets recruited VanVleet to be the leader of what they're referring to as Phase 2 of the franchise's rebuild," the article says about the Rockets intention with him.
VanVleet joins Jalen Green on ESPN's 51-100 NBArank list as the only two Houston Rockets players so far.
The undersized guard averaged 19.3 points and 7.3 assists per game for the Toronto Raptors last season and was an important piece for the 2019 NBA Finals-winning Raptors squad.
His time with the team has shown his ability to play both guard positions, his playmaking and scoring being his biggest strengths. Despite a 6-foot-1 frame, VanVleet plays above-average defense, his quick hands helping him to be skilled on the opposite end of the court.
VanVleet's drop on the ranking seems to be due to his lackluster 39.3 percent shooting from the field, as the guard settles for bad shots far too often, and with his injury history, the guard has been unable to use his speed to create open baskets off the dribble.
With a healthy season and a better shot IQ, Fred VanVleet could be in for a career season behind a Rockets offense that plays fast, and his leadership role with the team will only help the young roster reach its potential.
