Fred VanVleet's first All-Star selection was a momentous occasion. The Toronto Raptors' point guard has emerged as a certified star and has earned the accolade to go along with it.

Last season, VanVleet showed he could play at an All-Star level. This season, he has only improved his production. To go along with elite defense, he is averaging 21.5 points, 7.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game (all career-highs) and shooting 39.9 percent on 3-pointers while taking just a shade under 10 attempts per game. He and Pascal Siakam are leading the Raptors to a 27-23 record.

VanVleet's message has always been to bet on himself. That's the message he tweeted after going undrafted in the 2016 draft. He has continually done so throughout his career. The 27-year-old recalled his message after becoming the fourth undrafted player in modern NBA history to become an All-Star.

VanVleet has gotten better with every NBA season, upping his scoring and assists in each season. His current and former teammates, including Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, congratulated him on his historic accomplishment. His two-way dominance has allowed him to fill Lowry's shoes as the team's franchise cornerstone. As long as he is a Raptor, the team will play hard and smart under his stewardship.

After the Raptors' championship-winning team was dismantled, shedding the stars that it was uncertain where the team would go with the holdovers from that team. Since VanVleet's bet has paid off big time, Toronto is in the running for a playoff spot and has a terrific leader for their young core of players.