If anyone on this Toronto Raptors roster was penciled in as the favorite to break DeMar DeRozan’s franchise single-game scoring record of 52 points, veteran point guard Kyle Lowry seemed like the most likely choice. However, during a 123-108 win against the Orlando Magic, it was Fred VanVleet who topped that mark with 54 points despite shooting just 23 times in the game.
While tributes for VanVleet poured in from all corners of the basketball world, the most important came from VanVleet’s current and former teammates, as DeRozan has to praise the former undrafted free agent for rewriting the record book in one of the most efficient shooting performances of all time.
DeRozan, who is still playing some excellent basketball with the San Antonio Spurs, gave VanVleet his props after the former Wichita State star broke his record. In the very same congratulatory tweet, DeRozan took a comical shot at Lowry, claiming that his “old ass” couldn’t break the record before reminding the public that he knew of VanVleet’s star potential long ago.
Congrats to my brotha Freddy V! Kyle old ass couldn’t do it. Glad you did champ! Been telling you!
— DeMar DeRozan (@DeMar_DeRozan) February 3, 2021
Toronto Raptors veteran Kyle Lowry also hyped up Fred VanVleet
As captured by Jamaal Magloire, Lowry was leading the charge as VanVleet was showered upon his return to the locker room. Lowry also gave a rousing speech with his arm draped around VanVleet, praising his work ethic and ability to overcome long odds after arriving in Toronto as an undrafted free agent.
Lowry claims that he has a very close-knit relationship with VanVleet, referring to him as his “little brother” and reaffirming how proud he is of him. Considering how VanVleet broke a record for points in a game by an undrafted player that used to be held by the great Moses Malone, he deserves every ounce of praise that he’s garnering right now.
Kyle Lowry on Fred VanVleet: "Y'all know how I feel about him. That's my little brother and I'm proud of him."
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) February 3, 2021
While Lowry himself recorded a triple-double by scoring 14 points, pulling down 10 boards, and totaling 10 assists, he seemed more than happy to play second-fiddle to VanVleet after the fan-favorite rewrote Toronto’s record books thanks to some ungodly efficiency.
While VanVleet won’t shoot the ball like this every night, nor does this mean that the 9-12 Raptors are by any means out of the woods and ready to compete for a championship, a Toronto team that needed a sensational performance to right the ship was treated to much more than just a standout day on the offensive end, as VanVleet’s performance will live on forever in Raptors history.