Toronto Raptors: How Every Player Helped Win The NBA Championship

FRED VANVLEET

When Steady Freddy was at his best these playoffs, the Raptors were close to unbeatable. We all know what happened after the birth of his son but the difference in numbers is truly staggering.

Before Fred Jr.
16 games (9-7), 20.4 minutes per game, 4.6 Points, 2.9 assists, 29.8-percent from the field, 25-percent from three, 70.6-percent from the free throw line and just one game scoring in double digits

After Fred Jr.
9 games (7-2), 32.3 minutes, 14.7 points, 2.4 assists, 51-percent from the field, 52.6-percent from three, 85.7-percent from the free throw line and only one game with less than 10 points

Freddy upping his performance didn’t just provide the Raptors with an extra 10 points per game but it also gave stabilization off the bench. By the end of the Golden State series, FVV was playing heavy minutes as well as starting second halves and closing out games.

His success in the Finals may be the defining moment for his career was a showcase of his entire skill set. Offensively, he was a sharpshooter from three, a stable ball handler and as efficient as it comes. On the defensive end, Freddy stunned the basketball world by coming as close as anyone can to shutting Steph Curry down.

His jump in performance also elevated the guys around him. Most notably, Kyle Lowry. The confidence in VanVleet gave Lowry more rest, keeping him fresh through to the late minutes of each contest.

Signature Moment: 4th quarter of Game 6 in the Finals