“I Remember Being Numb”: Currently the Same Age as His Father When He Passed Away, NBA Star Fred Vanvleet Recalls the Dark Tragedy

The current podcast culture helps us dive into previously unknown aspects of an athlete. Instances of athletes sharing their personal anecdotes have seen a huge bloom. Many NBA players host their own podcasts, engaging in intense discussions. Many others go on big-name podcasts to narrate their experiences. Fred VanVleet chose the latter option. He recently sat down with The Pivot Podcast to discuss the impact of his father’s demise.

The heart-wrenching story is inspiring and something that gives us a deeper insight into the NBA legend’s life and personality.

Fred VanVleet recounts a devastating experience

On The Pivot Podcast, Fred VanVleet opens up about the harrowing reality of losing a parent at a very young age. A boy, just 5 years old in 1999, Fred lost his father’s guiding spirit from over his head.

The former Toronto Raptors played recalls, “I remember when it happened, I remember being numb. I remember them telling me how it happened, I remember all my family’s reactions. I remember a lot of it.”

He points out how he perceived the event as he aged. He continues to say, ”The biggest thing is the older I got, I realized how numb it made me. And unless you have been through tragedy as hard as to like to relate to it, it made me super numb to everything. Alright, I am just gonna focus on what I wanna do”.

The host further inquired if the incident shaped him into the basketball player he was now. VanVleet assents to the notion and mentioned it did give him “purpose”.

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VanVleet’s father succumbed to death owing to a drug feud. This also offers him an intriguing lesson. From the experience, Fred learned, “If I go down this road, this is what’s gonna happen. And that’s what drilled into me when I was five years old. I know I can’t do that and I am gonna over here and do this. I’ma put up everything into that so I don’t end up that way”.

VanVleet received a boost from his stepfather

Years after his biological father’s death, Fred’s stepfather Joe Danforth played a momentous role in his life. Joe belongs to an army and police background, helping him mould Fred in a disciplined manner.

When Fred fell into the traps of crime and drugs, his stepdad took the mantle. He took the young Fred to practice before sunrise, making him wear 30-pound vests during practices. He urged his stepson to “not be average” and proclaimed that he is “going to be somebody”.

All this turned out into a beautiful future for VanVleet. He transformed into The Guard we all know. He defied the odds by entering the NBA undrafted and fulfilling Danforth’s prophecy with a lucrative $130 million 3-year contract.

He’s all set to take the floor in the Houston Rockets next season. His journey will take yet another flight. His tale is one which has both tragedy and fortune. 

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What do you think about the inspiring backstory? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.