Raptors: 3 reasons Fred VanVleet should be an All-Star

The Toronto Raptors haven’t had a ton to smile about this season given how they are currently lying at 7-11, but the play of star guard Fred VanVleet has been extremely encouraging, especially after he signed a four-year contract this offseason. VanVleet, who has received endorsements from head coach Nick Nurse, might be the lone Raptor with a legitimate chance of making the All-Star team, as doing so would extend Toronto’s run of consecutive seasons having a player selected as an All-Star at seven.

If the Raptors want to extend their streak to eight, fans need to get behind VanVleet in his All-Star push, as there are three key reasons why he should be picked.

3. He’s having the best season of his career while becoming the Toronto Raptors’ No. 1 scorer

Fred VanVleet has been playing better than he has ever played in his career

VanVleet was an average scorer for the better part of his career, but his hot start to the 2019-20 campaign has him finally numbering among the elite in the Eastern Conference. VanVleet is averaging 19.3 points per game. While that number puts him fourth among Eastern Conference shooting guards, Jaylen Brown’s versatility means that he is playing a lot of off-ball forward. Designating Brown as a forward could put VanVleet behind second-place Zach LaVine and leader Bradley Beal.

VanVleet’s evolution from an undrafted free agent to a quality role player on a championship team to legit No. 1 star on a playoff team has been amazing to watch, and he should be properly heralded for his development with an All-Star appearance.

With the Raptors in need of someone on the perimeter to step up and save them as they spiral ever downward, VanVleet could potentially be tasked with taking on even greater responsibility on the offensive end. Doing so would gas up his scoring numbers and make his stats more enticing to the voters. If they can look past Toronto’s record, they’ll see how good VanVleet’s stats look.