The Toronto Raptors saw Fred VanVleet take the leap from a promising two-way player with a solid 3-point to a no-doubt All-Star that is capable of leading a postseason team. When Pascal Siakam was working his way back from injury, VanVleet was the unquestioned leader of this team.
20.3 points and 6.7 assists per game is a very impressive total for Wichita State’s finest, as he shows that he is arguably the greatest undrafted free agent guard this side of Darrell Armstrong the NBA has ever seen. VanVleet’s shooting and overall game will likely age gracefully.
Last year was a turning point for both VanVleet and the larger NBA community, as they were finally made aware of just how dominant he can be in the right system. VanVleet is now an All-Star, putting him in what has become a very exclusive club in the NBA.
It’s time to take stock of all 30 projected starting point guards in the NBA and see where VanVleet fits in. Is he in one of the higher tiers that signifies him as a championship-type player, or does he still have some hills left to climb in his career?
NBA point guard tier list: Where is Toronto Raptors’ PG Fred VanVleet?
Tier 7: Replacement Level
30. Tre Jones, San Antonio Spurs
29. Monte Morris, Washington Wizards
28. Kevin Porter Jr, Houston Rockets
Jones is likely going to shunt down the priority list in San Antonio, as they are likely going to tank for either Victor Wembanyama or their point guard of the future. Morris is a solid player, but he’s nowhere near good enough to be considered a long-term option for Washington.
Porter is already starting to be phased out, as names like Jalen Green and (potentially) rookie TyTy Washington will compete with him for minutes. If he continues to be as volatile on the court as he has been over the last few years, the Rockets may finally pull the plug despite his excellent scoring skill.
Toronto Raptors: Fred VanVleet is better than Cole Anthony, John Wall.
Tier 6: Serviceable, if uninspiring
27. Lonzo Ball, Chicago Bulls
26. Mike Conley, Utah Jazz
25. Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic
24. John Wall, Los Angeles Clippers
These four players are undoubtedly solid, but they could be replaced by more talented options. Anthony is a stud, but he has inefficiency concerns that could derail him. Wall, in theory, may be much higher in the eyes of some, but it’s hard to judge his play after the last few seasons.
Due to Ball’s injuries and the ceaseless march of time eating into Conley’s ability to lead Utah, neither of them should consider their starting spots secured beyond this season. VanVleet has put tons of distance between those in this tier, thanks to his highly successful season.
Tier 5: Solid players, not needle movers
23. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
22. Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers
21. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
20. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
Westbrook’s value has never been lower, but he still can stuff a stat sheet. Brunson could be a serious playmaker for the Knicks, but he is likely not going to be the type of player who can elevate a team by himself. He only has one season of truly elite production.
Cunningham and Haliburton will likely end up on the All-Star team at some point in their careers, but they will need to overcome several developmental hurdles before they can get their teams to the playoffs. Even with that caveat, it should surprise no one if they rise up this list by the end of the year.
Tier 4: Higher-end Starters on playoff teams
19. D’Angelo Russell, Minnesota Timberwolves
18. Kyle Lowry, Miami Heat
17. Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics
16. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
15. LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets
14. De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings
Even after some injuries, both Lowry and Murray will be effective leaders for teams with championship aspirations. Russell and Ball’s lack of defense will hurt them, but they have proven they can fill it up at an All-Star level in this league. For all of Smart’s faults, it’s hard to rank the Defensive Player of the Year too low.
Toronto Raptors star Fred VanVleet is right near the top 10.
Tier 3: Fringe All-Stars
13. Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers
12. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
11. Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors
10. Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks
9. CJ McCollum, New Orleans Pelicans
Toronto’s $110 million man ends up right alongside the top 10, showing that his ability to nail shots from 3-point range and generate turnovers will take him places. He beat out names like a fellow 2022 All-Star in Garland and one of the most underappreciated young stars in the game today in Gilgeous-Alexander.
Holiday has been one of the most underrated players in the league for years, though he and VanVleet are interchangeable at this point. New Orleans let McCollum handle the ball last year, and the results were exemplary. VanVleet needs to repeat his prolific scoring to leap firmly above one of these two.
Tier 2: Expected All-Stars
8. James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers
7. Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns
6. Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets
5. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
4. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
3. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
If Irving and Lillard can stay healthy, they should once again be All-Stars who break NBA Twitter with their signature blend of mind-bending highlights. Young and Morant still stink defensively, but they can change a game on the offensive end if they get hot on any given game day.
It’s easy to make fun of Harden for losing a step, but he can still be dangerous if he is used correctly. Chris Paul is Chris Paul, and that will be enough to make the Suns contenders again.
Fred VanVleet is several tiers below Steph Curry.
Tier 1: All-NBA
2. Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors
1. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Betting on either Curry or Doncic to win MVP in 2022-23 would not be a foolish errand. Considering how Doncic was All-NBA for the third year in a row and Curry helped lead the Warriors win a title, these two are at the absolute top of their game at this moment in time.
VanVleet is never going to reach this lofty tier in his career, but few in recorded history ever have. Curry and Doncic might be two of the five best players in the game today, making them two of the favorites to win it all this year.,