Despite Winning the NBA Championship With the Raptors, Fred VanVleet Claims Another Feat as His ?Ultimate Pride?

Jul 9, 2023 | 6:30 AM EDT

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The rise of Fred VanVleet in the NBA has been impressive. The 2016 undrafted player has now a three-year, $130 million worth deal with the Houston Rockets. The signing of the former Raptors player who aided the team in a championship is a big boost for the Rockets. However, VanVleet’s road to glory is ridden with roadblocks.

The 29-year-old recently disclosed his “Ultimate pride” and revealed some sullen scenes of his life.

Fred VanVleet reveals his “Ultimate Pride”

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VanVleet recently appeared in ‘The Pivot Podcast‘ where he talked about his family and growing-up experiences before revealing his “Ultimate Pride.”

He said, “That’s the ultimate pride you know. That’s really the reason why I do it… is to take everybody along for the ride. I mean this is like the sh*t that we dream about you know. This is what you think about in the backyard. Five four three two one you know you we sit around in the basement just watching ESPN watching sports center looking at different things.”

VanVleet embarked on a journey with the Toronto Raptors that culminated with the NBA championship in 2019. He joined the Raptors for the NBA Summer League after going undrafted in 2016, where he demonstrated his skills and gained a spot on the roster. He became a dependable point guard in the following seasons, helping with his playmaking skills and tough defense.

VanVleet really came into his own in the 2018-19 campaign. The Toronto Raptors became serious title challengers once superstar Kawhi Leonard joined the team and Pascal Siakam broke through. He helped the Raptors’ in their historic title victory with his performance in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors. He scored 22 points and sank crucial three-pointers. However, this might not be his greatest victory yet.

Not having a great childhood of his own, he is trying his best to be a good father. And it shows.

Fred VanVleet had a challenging upbringing

VanVleet overcame a difficult upbringing to achieve success as an athlete. He experienced many challenges as a child growing up in the violent and gang-infested city of Rockford, Illinois where he lost his father at an early age.

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“So it’s like we all still have all those memories,” he said in the interview. “And then you know to see it unfold I’m not even really appreciating it you know the best that I can. Because I’m still focused on all the other things that I want to still continue to do. But that’s why I keep everybody close to me you know just to keep me grounded.”

As a youngster, he struggled to come to terms with this terrible loss. Consequently, Fred found himself being lured into a life of drugs and brawls. Before Joe Danforth, his stepfather entered the scene, his future seemed dismal.

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Watch This Story: After Spending 7 Years With a Single NBA Franchise, Fred Vanvleet Sheds Light on His $130,000,000 ?Pressure?

Joe Danforth, a veteran policeman, took matters into his own hands to save him from falling victim to the perilous influences around him. Joe would correct Fred using a strict parenting style, even using physical punishment if required. The young basketball player had a difficult and occasionally trying childhood, but his stepfather unquestionably helped keep him on the right track.