It’s one of the most impressive aspects of Fred VanVleet’s magnificent season with the Toronto Raptors: He’s done all of it while adjusting to a new role on the team (following in the footsteps of Kyle Lowry) and the increased attention that comes with it.

No longer are defenses simply treating VanVleet as a largely off-ball threat, concerned only with chasing him around screens and getting a hand up in his face when he spots up at the arc. Now, they’re keying in on him in recognition of what he’s become—an All-Star.

“[I get] a lot of attention,” VanVleet told reporters Monday. “Face guarding, you’ve seen a box-and-one a couple times. It’s ironic, to say the least. But it’s been fun, it’s been a challenge to learn and to adapt and I have to stay locked in.

“Jose [Alvarado] last night, he did a great job—maybe in the third quarter—he guarded me pretty well, some possessions. Having to stay locked in with being frustrated and coming out and put something together in the fourth. I’m just enjoying the challenge and embracing the ups and downs that’s coming within the game and just trying to learn and get better.”

And yet, despite his name being circled on every opponent’s scouting report, VanVleet has been able to thrive regardless. He has made significant alterations to his shot diet with the Raptors this season, most notably with how often he takes attempts at the rim as opposed to rising up in the midrange.

Last season, he took 17.4 percent of his looks within 0-3 feet of the hoop. This season, that has decreased to 10.2 percent, and his efficiency, consequently, has spiked from 53 to 66.7 percent. In similar fashion, his midrange shot attempts are up across the board—from 10-16 feet, for example, he’s letting it fly a tad more than last season (9.5 vs. 10.4 percent) and yet is draining them at an insane mark (38.6 vs. 63.9 percent).

Some of this, of course, is also just Fred VanVleet shooting better than ever on a higher volume of pull-up jumpers (40.1 percent on 8.5 attempts) despite the difficulty. He has shown time and time again throughout the course of the season that his range is limitless, that his ability to work himself into shots he likes is unflappable. Look no further than his last outing against the New Orleans Pelicans, in which he drained a dagger step-back triple in transition to help seal the game.

“Obviously, being in the rhythm that I’m in helps,” VanVleet said. “It’s not even a question [of taking the shot], I didn’t have to think about it, but maybe other nights I might’ve thought about it. I just hit one, I thought it was a good shot. I’ll take my chances back there versus trying to drive in there in the trees and I was able to get one up and it went down.”

No matter what the situation has called for this season, VanVleet has found a way to get the job done. In so doing, he’s seemingly not only found a comfortable high level of play for himself, he has also been instrumental in developing a team-wide synergy that’s finally resulting in tangible victories for the Raptors. Whether he’s setting himself up or someone else, the added defensive pressure has just become another adjustment he’s been quick to make.

“When it comes to shot selection, it’s definitely been a journey for me throughout my career,” Fred VanVleet smiled. “I always feel like I can take and make the big shots.”