Fred VanVleet of the Toronto Raptors got his first view of New York Knicks rookie RJ Barrett on Wednesday. From VanVleet's perspective, the third overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft has the capacity to be a ‘good young player in the league.' The Knicks guard has all the tools to succeed but it's really up to him if he utilizes them to the max.
Per Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun, VanVleet shared that he whispered some words of advice to Barrett after the game. VanVleet seemed to take lessons from his own experience.
The ever-wise Fred VanVleet on R.J. Barrett: "He's going to be good. I don't speak on these things too much, but his potential is in his hands. Everybody will write about him and it's in New York, so that's it's own problem there, but you want to support him." pic.twitter.com/h6FZvVs1aj
— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) November 28, 2019
After all, VanVleet entered the league as an undrafted prospect in 2016. He started out in the G League for a measly salary and worked his way into the Raptors roster. Once he was given the opportunity to don the Raptors jersey, VanVleet seized it.
He played a critical role in the Raptors' title run last season. He was tagged as a shot-maker — someone who swishes the net even when under pressure in the tensest situations of the game.
So Barrett should take VanVleet's advice to heart. Whether you're a highly-regarded prospect or not, your fate still resides in your hands. VanVleet has certainly worked hard to get where he is today. Barrett, too, should follow suit.
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