Fred Vanvleet is one of the underdogs of the NBA. VanVleet played college basketball for Wichita State University before beginning his NBA career. He was already said to be too short, and had a short wings span.
VanVleet was not selected in the 2016 draft. He declined two offers to play in the NBA D-League. They only offered to pay him $10,000 – $20,000 for a two year contract. One of the most notable portions of his journey to the NBA was when he threw a draft party and did not get seat to the league. His speech was a speech of motivation despite his disappointment he kept going. The teams that gave him that offer the first round were interested in him the second round.
He went from an un-drafted nobody to being a star player on the Raptors and a face of the team. In his first contract he was offered was under a million. He worked hard after being signed as a free agent and showed off his skills in the NBA summer league in 2018. He was selected to participate in the NBA Allstar game. After his performance he was then offer a multi million dollar contract in July, 2019. He then went on to assisting his team with winning the Championship 2019. Kyle Lowry has many interviews speaking highly of Vanvleet’s journey and progress in he league.
He worked really hard to prove his spot on the Toronto Raptors. He eventually accepted a contract with the Raptors as to pay for their summer league along with 3 game appearances. then after being selected to play in the Allstar game. He is the fourth undrafted player in the NBA to make it to the Allstar. He is also the eighth Raptors player to be named an all-star.
Vanvleet story is defiantly one that I admire. He’s perseverance and grit is why he is one of the best to ever do it. He’s story is different because it shows you that you don’t have to take every offer that is offered to you. Sometimes you just have to bet on yourself. There are not a lot of stories of what can happen when you decline an offer from the NBA.