Fred VanVleet’s Big Bet On Himself
The Lead
Wondery
3.9 • 2.2K Ratings
🗓️ 10 February 2021
⏱️ 16 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Last week, Fred VanVleet scored 54 points against the Orlando Magic, passing DeMar DeRozan for the Toronto Raptors’ franchise record, and Moses Malone for the most ever by an undrafted player in the NBA. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Eric Koreen to look at VanVleet’s rise as a player, including the big bet he made on himself the night of the draft in 2016 — and how that gamble is now paying off.
Read Eric Koreen’s story about Fred VanVleet: https://theathletic.com/2364939/2021/02/03/fred-vanvleet-raptors-record/?source=theleadpodcast
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Transcript
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| 0:22.8 | Listen to even the rich on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. |
| 0:33.0 | Last week, Toronto Raptors guard Fred Van Vleet had the game of his life. |
| 0:38.1 | There it is. |
| 0:40.8 | The Raptor record Fred Van Vleet with 54. |
| 0:46.1 | Nick Nurse said a Fred. |
| 0:48.1 | He was born to lead and he is leading tonight. |
| 0:52.5 | Today the Athletics Air Korean on Van Vleet's unlikely journey from undrafted to unstoppable. |
| 0:58.5 | And how the big bet he made on himself back in 2016 is now paying off. |
| 1:02.5 | It was really hard to say, no, don't draft me. |
| 1:06.8 | But this is a kid who's been in an underdog situation before and gets almost as if he |
| 1:11.7 | thrives on that sort of feeling. |
| 1:17.2 | From Wondry in the Athletic, I'm under Skelto. |
| 1:19.5 | And I'm Kavita Davidson. |
| 1:21.0 | It's Wednesday, February 10th and this is The Lead. |
| 1:24.9 | Just get the ball to 23. |
| 1:29.3 | It felt like something great was happening. |
... |
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