Rockets' Fred VanVleet Prepared To Lead Young Corps

Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet spoke at Media Day about how he can be an effective leader.

Houston Rockets guard and free agent addition Fred VanVleet spoke at Rockets Media Day about how his time with the Toronto Raptors can help him in his new role. 

"Really my last two years was almost a similar situation," VanVleet said. "We were a little farther along because we had some carryover from the championship, but we had a ton of young guys the last two years up there in Toronto. 

"Just learning from that and learning how to adapt and adjust and find ways to be effective as a leader but also continue to be effective on the floor, I think I'm gonna be able to draw on that a lot and help these guys a lot."

VanVleet had been with the Raptors for the first seven years of his career since he signed with the team as an undrafted free agent out of Wichita State in 2016. After Toronto won the NBA Finals in 2019, he broke out in the wake of Kawhi Leonard's departure when he became a full-time starter for the team. 

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In his last four seasons with the Raptors, VanVleet averaged 19.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.8 steals while shooting 36.7% from deep. He also made his first and only All Star team during the 2021-22 NBA season. 

The 29-year-old guard signed a three-year, $130 million contract with Houston, the biggest contract ever given out to a former undrafted player in NBA history. In his contract, there is a team option for the third year that if the Rockets pick up, would pay him $45 million for the 2025-25 season.

VanVleet will likely make his Houston debut during the NBA preseason, which starts with a home matchup with the Indiana Pacers on Oct. 10 at 8 p.m.