Fred VanVleet got paid. I mean HE GOT PAID!
FVV’s contract of 4-years $85 million might not be the largest contract in NBA history but it is the largest contract ever for an undrafted free agent.
Bet on yourself. That has been Fred’s mantra – his philosophy – for a long time.
In fact, he even has his own Bet on Yourself apparel line.
He was always a talented player, but never THE best player. There always seemed to be something the naysayers would point to. He just was never elite enough in any one category to please everyone.
However, Fred was elite – just not in the way most people measure basketball players. He was an elite teammate and leader. Being elite in those areas, when combined with ball-handling, shooting, toughness, and defense – made him an elite NBA player worthy of big money.
Bet on yourself. FVV did and it paid off.
All basketball players want to hit buckets, make big plays, and be loved by the fans. But not every player is willing to grind, hustle, sweat, sacrifice, and do the things to earn respect. Everyone wants to be a star, but not everyone wants to be a great leader and teammate. Great teams have great teammates and Fred VanVleet was as good as it gets for the 2019 World Champion Toronto Raptors.
Prior to the 2017-18 season, Coach Dwane Casey brought me in to speak with the Raptors a couple of times during their preseason mini camps. I was fortunate to spend multiple days around the team and it was obvious that, not only did they have a good culture, but that Fred was something special.
He was a leader. He was a great teammate. He was well-respected.
To his teammates, it didn’t matter he was an undrafted free agent. It didn’t matter he was coming off a rookie season in which he split half the year between the Raptors and their G-League team.
Even though he is now rich beyond all imagination, has hit big shot after big shot, or has sacrificed his body to the floor burn gods, there is one thing that stands out in my mind when I think about Fred VanVleet.
One day at mini-camp, the Raptors arrived at the gym for a workout session and scrimmage. After the van was parked, there were five players standing around three equipment bags that needed to go into the gym. It was only a few seconds, but it seemed like minutes as the players seemed to do mental math and realized that there were more players than bags. If they waited long enough, they wouldn’t have to carry a bag.
It was at this point, that Fred stepped into the middle and said, “Forget this, let’s go get better” and picked up TWO of the bags and headed toward the gym.
Carrying bags, picking up trash, diving for loose balls, getting water for a teammate, touching lines during sprints, coming early, staying late, or doing the boring little things may not lead to Most Outstanding Player awards or shoe deals. But those are the very things that make great teammates and leaders. Those are what the Most Valuable Teammate does.
Great teams have great teammates.
Fred VanVleet bet on himself. As a result, his fellow Raptors cashed in their chips for championship rings and he cashed in his chips for a bigger wallet.
Fred not only bet that his jump shot, defense, and ball-handling would become better, but he also bet that his work ethic, leadership, and attitude would be contagious and make him an invaluable teammate.
Bet on yourself and become your team’s most valuable teammate.