The defending NBA-champion Toronto Raptors are back where they were last season: the second seed in the Eastern Conference, contending for a championship. Furthermore, they're doing so after losing superstar Kawhi Leonard to free agency. They're in this situation thanks to a combination of veteran reliability and young players on the rise.
One of those blossoming youngsters is guard Fred VanVleet, who has panned out to be a carbon copy of his teammate, Kyle Lowry.
Kyle Lowry's career
Toronto acquired Lowry from the Houston Rockets in the summer of 2012. Little did they know that a player acquired to fill a void would become the heart and soul of the organization.
Lowry ended up running Toronto's offense for the better part of last decade, and he quickly became one of the best point guards in the NBA with the Raptors.
He established himself as a gritty scorer, showing a willingness to attack the rack despite not being a speeding bullet, so to speak. Concurrently, he was adept at making slick passes, sticking outside jump shots at a plausible rate, and playing considerable defense. These are the qualities of a two-way floor general.
Lowry is the same player in 2020. He's not blowing past his cover. That said, he's savvy. He takes what the defense gives him, can be effective on a bad scoring night, and runs an offense at a high level. This season Lowry, 34, is casually averaging 19.7 points and 7.7 assists per game, eliminating any doubt over whether he has regressed from an impact and production standpoint.
Fred VanVleet's career
VanVleet was one of the best reserve guards in the sport across the first three seasons of his NBA career: an impact two-way player who led the scoring charge off the bench. Now he's a mainstay in head coach Nick Nurse's rotation.
There's nothing VanVleet can't do at a respectable level offensively. He's a smooth ball handler, a patient scorer, an efficient outside shooter, and an impressive passer. This season VanVleet is averaging 17.6 points, 6.6 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 38.8 percent from beyond the arc. This is his first season as a full-time starter.
VanVleet takes what the defense gives him, whether it be an open three-pointer or a lane to the basket. Meanwhile, he has a knack for pickpocketing and is a competitive on-ball defender. This is a fundamentally sound, well-rounded player you want running your offense.
Lowry and VanVleet have the same tendencies, strong suits, prudent demeanor with the ball in their hands, and story of gradually becoming a backbone on both ends of the floor. Heck, they practically have the same stature (Lowry is listed at 6-foot, 196 pounds, and VanVleet is listed at 6-foot-1, 197 pounds).
Fred VanVleet is Toronto's latest player development wonder
VanVleet isn't the first and likely won't be the last player to develop into a reliable starter with the Raptors. This dates back to Dwane Casey's days running the show and has continued under Nick Nurse. Just look at their best player, Pascal Siakam.
Two seasons ago Siakam served as frontline depth for the Raptors. He was an athletic two-way player who typically manned a reserve role. The ensuing season Siakam was plugged into the starting rotation and was one of the most vital components to the Raptors' championship run. This season he became the driving force of their operation.
Siakam is averaging 23.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and one steal per game this season. Is that good?
Norman Powell was an electric bench scorer in years past. This season he's averaging a career-high 16.4 points per game on 39.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc. OG Anunoby was a defensive specialist who seldom contributed to the Raptors offense over his first two seasons in the NBA. This season he's averaging 10.7 points per game while shooting 38.1 percent from beyond the arc.
Fred VanVleet is an indispensable piece to the puzzle
The Raptors have a pattern of developing young players and/or righting veteran careers. VanVleet is the latest example of the organization's sly player development.
One could argue that VanVleet is the Raptors' most important player not named Pascal Siakam this season. He provides them with another considerable backcourt scorer and a do-it-all player. Those types of players are difficult to game-plan for because they successfully pivot to something else if a team prioritizes shutting down a specific part of their game.
The future is uncertain for the Wichita State product in Toronto, as he hits the open market this offseason and will likely cash in on a handsome contract. VanVleet is in such a situation because he waited for his turn, didn't complain about playing time, and seized the opportunity at hand. Concurrently, Nurse and his coaching staff put him in a position to succeed with a roster that has continuity and phenomenal chemistry.
Fred VanVleet is the modern-day Kyle Lowry. Toronto created a younger version of its most successful reclamation project.
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