Though this is only his third season in the NBA, Toronto Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet is already earning the respect of his teammates, especially four-time All-Star Kyle Lowry.
Lowry, who racked up 23 points and 12 assists in Wednesday night's win over the Golden State Warriors, says VanVleet is “a tough little SOB.”
“He's a tough little SOB, but that's why I love him and that's why he's going to be in this league a long time,” Lowry told TSN Sport‘s Josh Lewenberg.
“He's going to do some special things in the league because of how tough he is, mentally and physically.”
Lowry is right. VanVleet has become a solid player, and his importance to the Raptors rotation is evident. In his 26 games played this season (five starts), the former Wichita State Shocker has racked up averages of 9.3 points on 41.4 percent shooting from the field (35.6 percent from beyond the arc), 4.3 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 steal in 24.3 minutes per outing.
VanVleet posted 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting in Wednesday's match-up against the Warriors.
“They're one of the best teams in the league for a reason and their offense is so lethal that you try to take the main guys out and make them do things that they're not comfortable doing,” VanVleet told ESPN during his post-game media availability.
“I thought we did a good job following the game plan.”
The Raptors (23-7 and 1st in the Atlantic Division standings) will be back in action on Friday night, as they're scheduled for a match-up against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Tip-off inside the Moda Center is set for 10:00 p.m. EST.
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