Fred VanVleet facts for kids
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VanVleet at the 2022 NBA All-Star Game
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| No. 5 – Houston Rockets | |
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| Point guard / shooting guard | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | February 25, 1994 Rockford, Illinois, U.S. |
| High school | Auburn (Rockford, Illinois) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Listed weight | 197 lb (89 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Wichita State (2012–2016) |
| NBA Draft | 2016 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 2016–present |
| League | NBA |
| Career history | |
| 2016–2017 | →Raptors 905 |
| 2016–2023 | Toronto Raptors |
| 2023–present | Houston Rockets |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Fredderick Edmund VanVleet Sr. (born February 25, 1994) is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the Houston Rockets in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is also the current president of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA).
Fred VanVleet is a point guard. He played college basketball for Wichita State University. Even though he was not picked in the 2016 NBA Draft, he became a very important player. He helped the Toronto Raptors win an NBA championship in 2019. In 2022, he was chosen as an NBA All-Star. He holds several records for the Raptors, including the most points and assists in a single game.
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Early Life and Family
Fred VanVleet was born in Rockford, Illinois, on February 25, 1994. His mother is Susan VanVleet. His father, Fred Manning, passed away when Fred was five years old. Later, his mother married Joe Danforth, who was a police officer and helped train Fred in basketball. Fred is biracial, meaning he has both Black and White heritage.
High School Basketball
VanVleet played basketball at Auburn High School in Rockford, Illinois. He was a top player, earning All-State honors in 2012. He helped lead his team to a 22-game winning streak. This led Auburn to its first state tournament final four since 1975. His team finished third in the state tournament.
Fred chose to stay loyal to his local Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team in Rockford. He believed that playing well with any team would show coaches his skills. He received scholarship offers from several colleges. He decided to play for Wichita State.
College Basketball Career
Freshman Year at Wichita State
As a freshman, Fred VanVleet played an important role coming off the bench. He helped the Shockers team reach the Final Four in the 2013 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. He scored double-digit points in key games, helping his team win.
Sophomore Year Success
VanVleet became a star player in his sophomore year. He was named to important watchlists for top college basketball awards. On February 19, 2014, he had an amazing game against Loyola, scoring 22 points without missing a shot. He also had 8 rebounds and 6 assists.
He helped lead the 2013–14 team to a perfect 31–0 regular season. This was the first time an NCAA Division I men's basketball team had done this. Because of his great play, he was named the MVC Player of the Year. He also received All-American honors from several sports news groups.
Junior Year Achievements
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Before his junior year, VanVleet was named a Preseason All-American by many sports media. He started the season strong, tying a school record with seven steals in one game. In January, he had his first career double-double (double digits in two stats).
On February 7, he achieved the first triple-double (double digits in three stats) for Wichita State Shockers men's basketball in 43 years. He had 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. He also broke the all-time Wichita State career assist record. He was named to the All-MVC first team and received All-American honorable mention again.
Senior Year and Records
VanVleet continued to be a top player in his senior year. He faced some hamstring and ankle injuries early in the season. Despite this, he helped his team win important games. He earned MVC Player of the Week honors multiple times.
He set a career high with 32 points in a game against Evansville. He also tied his career high with 11 assists in another game. In the 2016 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, he led his team to victories. In his final college game, he set a school career record with 225 steals. He also became the MVC leader in assists per game for the third time. He was named MVC Player of the Year for the second time.
Professional Basketball Career
Toronto Raptors (2016–2023)
Starting Out (2016–2018)
Fred VanVleet was not chosen in the 2016 NBA Draft. However, he signed with the Toronto Raptors to play in their Summer League. He then signed a multi-year deal with the Raptors. He made his NBA debut on November 9, 2016.
During his first season, he also played for Raptors 905, the Raptors' G League team. He helped Raptors 905 win their championship in 2017. In his second season, he became a key player off the bench for the Raptors. He set new career highs in points and assists. He was even nominated for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award.
NBA Champion (2018–2019)
VanVleet re-signed with the Raptors in 2018. He continued to improve, setting a new career high with 14 assists in December. In February, he scored a new career high of 30 points. He helped the Raptors make it to the 2019 NBA playoffs.
During the playoffs, he had a tough start with his shooting. But after his son, Fred Jr., was born in May, his shooting improved greatly. He became a crucial player for the Raptors. In the Eastern Conference Finals, he scored 21 points with seven three-pointers in a key game.
In the 2019 NBA Finals, VanVleet played excellent defense against Stephen Curry. In Game 6 of the Finals, he scored a playoff career-high 22 points. He helped the Raptors win their first NBA championship in team history. He also set an NBA Finals record for most three-pointers made off the bench with 16.
Becoming a Starter (2019–2021)
After winning the championship, VanVleet became a full-time starter for the Raptors. In the first game of the 2019-2020 season, he scored a career-high 34 points. In January 2020, he had 29 points and 11 assists, leading a big comeback win.
In August 2020, he scored a new career-high of 36 points. In the 2020 NBA Playoffs, he set playoff career highs with 30 points, 8 three-pointers, and 11 assists. He became the first Raptors player to have 30 points and 10-plus assists in a playoff game.
In November 2020, VanVleet signed a large contract to stay with the Raptors. On February 2, 2021, he had an incredible game, scoring a career-high 54 points. He made 11 three-pointers in that game. This set a new Raptors franchise record for most points in a game. It also set an NBA record for the most points scored by an undrafted player. He also set a franchise record for making a three-pointer in 76 straight regular-season games.
First All-Star Selection (2021–2023)
On January 7, 2022, VanVleet recorded his first career triple-double. He had 37 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. He scored 24 points in the third quarter alone, leading a big comeback win. For his great play, he was named NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
On February 3, VanVleet was chosen as an NBA All-Star for the first time. He was only the fourth undrafted player in the modern NBA era to become an All-Star. On April 3, 2022, he broke the Raptors' record for most three-pointers in a single season with 242.
On April 2, 2023, VanVleet set a new Raptors franchise record with 20 assists in a game. He also scored 20 points in that game. This made him the only player to hold both the single-game points (54) and single-game assists (20) records for an NBA team. In June 2023, he decided to become a free agent.
Houston Rockets (2023–Present)
On July 7, 2023, Fred VanVleet signed with the Houston Rockets. He made his debut for the Rockets on October 26. He quickly became a leader for his new team. On December 18, he had 17 assists along with 27 points.
VanVleet is known for his unique way of blocking shots. Even though he is not a tall player, he is very good at deflecting the ball before a shot goes up. In February 2024, he set an NBA record for most blocked shots in a single season by a player who is 6 feet tall or shorter. He scored a season-high 42 points in a game against the Utah Jazz, making nine three-pointers.
In April 2025, VanVleet tied a Rockets playoff record by making 8 three-point shots in a single game. On July 12, 2025, he was elected President of the National Basketball Players Association.
Career Records
Fred VanVleet holds many impressive records:
- He scored the most points ever in a single game by an undrafted NBA player (54 points).
- He is the only player to hold both the single-game points (54) and single-game assists (20) records for an NBA team (Toronto Raptors).
- He made the most three-point shots in an NBA Finals game while coming off the bench (16).
- He holds the NBA record for most blocked shots in a single season by a player 6 feet tall or shorter (59).
- He holds the Raptors' single-game points record (54) and single-game assists record (20).
- He holds the Raptors' single-season three-point shots made record (242).
- He holds the Raptors' record for consecutive regular-season games with a three-point shot made (76).
- He holds the Wichita State career records for steals (225) and assists (637).
Personal Life
Fred VanVleet has a daughter born in 2018 and a son born in 2019. His son was born during a very important playoff series, and Fred's play improved a lot after his son's birth. He studied sociology at Wichita State. In 2021, he launched a podcast called "Bet On Yourself."
Images for kids
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VanVleet as a freshman for the 2012–13 Wichita State Shockers
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VanVleet dribbling in 2015
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VanVleet being defended by Donte Ingram in 2015
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VanVleet with the Raptors in 2018
See also
In Spanish: Fred VanVleet para niños
