NBA stardom can take players to phenomenal heights. With the whole world watching, players experience fame at a completely different level. However, it is the humble beginnings that shape the players’ character. And Fred VanVleet had a very modest upbringing.

An NBA champion with the Toronto Raptors, VanVleet signed a $130M deal with the Houston Rockets in free agency, which became the largest deal signed by an undrafted player in NBA history. But before making headlines in the NBA world, he was just another kid on the streets of Rockford, Illinois. The 29-year-old opened up about his childhood in a recent interview, while also getting candid about his struggles and how he learned to be a better parent through his experiences.

Fred VanVleet explains his childhood struggles

Fred VanVleet went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft. Shortly after, he was picked up by the Toronto Raptors. Seven years later, he boasts of an NBA championship, an All-Star selection, and a whopping $130M deal. However, this journey was far from easy.

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In an interview on The Pivot Podcast, VanVleet opened up about his challenging experiences as a kid. “We was [sic] brainwashed into not being like the people we knew,” he said. “That’s a weird way to grow up as a kid, to only use a negative example.”

However, he later stated that his desire to excel helped him significantly. “It worked for me, I never wanted to be average and I never wanted to end up like you know, all of the bad stories that you end up hearing.”

Is VanVleet a better parent after his boyhood experience?

In the same segment, the Wichita State University alum was asked whether the childhood experience helped him with his parenting. “Yeah absolutely….he [VanVleet’s son] gonna have a whole different world to live in than what I had,”?the point guard replied.

He also went on to say, “More than anything, just understanding how much a kid can remember and they learn by seeing….. it’s just cool for me to be able to do that with my little one.”

With a team to represent and several expectations to live up to, NBA players do not have it easy. With the hectic schedule of playing in the NBA, parenting can get even more difficult.

However, Fred VanVleet, among some other NBA superstars, has always put his family first. There have been multiple incidents of the former Raptors player showing why he is a great father, despite his NBA stardom.

VanVleet has often brought his kids to his games as well as press conferences. There have also been several instances of him bringing them onto the court before games as well.

Furthermore, ‘Steady Freddy’? has also credited the birth of his son for his terrific run en route to winning the championship with the Raptors in 2019. Whether it’s his childhood experiences or just his love for children, VanVleet is certainly a great parent.

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