Fred VanVleet's 2022 campaign for the Raptors is easily his breakout year. Kyle Lowry's departure meant that he would have to step up in a big way, and he did. VanVleet averaged career-highs across the board and was selected to his first All-Star game of his career. It was, undeniably, the best season of his career so far.

However, an All-Star campaign isn't enough to satisfy VanVleet. After being eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round, the Raptors guard talked a bit about a “crossroads” he was facing after this season. It's honestly an amazing answer from the guard, who had great self-awareness about his current situation. (via Josh Lewenberg)

“I'm never too proud to ask for help or seek out advice. I'm at that crossroads where 20 points isn't a good game anymore. I went from underrated to overrated very fast. I gotta start thinking outside the box, I've gotta get uncomfortable, I've gotta find ways to get better”

Article Continues Below
More Toronto Raptors News
image thumbnail
Kon Knueppel turns heads with shocking NBA draft testing resultsErik Slater ·
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) drives toward the basket against Toronto Raptors guard Ochai Agbaji (30) in the first half at Scotiabank Arena.
Raptors rumors: Insider reveals Toronto is willing to ‘gamble’ on Kevin DurantJulian Ojeda ·
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) is greeted by team mates during player introductions before tip off against the Charlotte Hornets at Scotiabank Arena. Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Scottie Barnes responds to P.K. Subban’s bold NBA, NHL claimJake Faigus ·
Kevin Durant photoshopped in Raptors
Raptors trade proposal for Kevin Durant as Giannis Antetokounmpo consolationBailey Bassett ·
Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković looks on during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center.
Raptors rumors: What Toronto is ‘coveting’ with No. 9 pickTroy Finnegan ·
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) shields the ball from Toronto Raptors forward Jonathan Mogbo (2) in the second half at Footprint Center.
Raptors rumors: Kevin Durant trade a backup option to Giannis AntetokounmpoTroy Finnegan ·

Oof, talk about a brutally honest answer from VanVleet. It's not like the star is exaggerating, too. He had a pretty dismal showing for the Raptors in the four games he played in the playoffs, and struggled to maintain his form even before the postseason began. Injuries obviously played a part, but that's not always a good excuse. VanVleet knows that all too well: his former mentor Kyle Lowry played through a thumb injury during their Finals run.

Recognizing that you have a lot of room for improvement is tough. It's doubly harder if you're coming off your most successful season like VanVleet did. However, the Raptors guard displayed tremendous self-awareness to know that he could've played better. That's exactly how he built a great career after going undrafted a few years ago.

Regardless of how it ended, this season is still a massive success for the Raptors. Quotes like this from VanVleet prove that this young core is on the upswing moving forward. They never rest on their laurels, and continue to find ways to improve. It will be exciting to see where Toronto ends up in the upcoming seasons.