DeMar DeRozan Gives High Praise to Former Teammate Fred VanVleet| SLAM

Fred VanVleet erupted for 30 points and 11 assists as he helped to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 113-104 win over the visiting Chicago Bulls on Sunday. VanVleet is in his seventh season with the Raptors, and after initially going undrafted, VanVleet has turned himself into a franchise player within the Raptors organization.

VanVleet’s toughness, dependable offense, and leadership on and off the court are just a few of the qualities that make him one of the most respected players in the league. It is also a massive part of what helped the Raptors secure their first NBA title in 2019.

VanVleet dropped 30 points, five rebounds, and 11 assists on 9-22 shooting from the field (5-13 from beyond the arc) to lead the Raptors to a 113-114 win over the Bulls. Following the loss, former teammate and Raptors icon DeMar DeRozan shared his thoughts on VanVleet’s electrifying performance per ESPN;

“Hell of a player, one of the best point guards in this League,” said DeRozan. “I didn’t expect anything less from him. That’s who he is, aggressive, changes the dynamic of the game.”

VanVleet is averaging 15.7 points, 8.1 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game in just seven games this season. Even though the Raptors currently have a 6-4 record, it is still very early in the season, and the team still has some things to improve upon.

One thing is for sure, though, with VanVleet’s leadership, Pascal Siakam’s craftiness, and SLAM 239 cover athlete Scottie Barnes‘ explosiveness, the Raptors have positioned themselves for a dominant playoff run this season.