The story of Fred VanVleet's journey from college star to an undrafted player to an NBA champion never gets old.
While the 27-year-old's story is well known at this point, it's always interesting to hear more details any time VanVleet hops on a podcast or interview.
Recently, VanVleet jumped on the "All The Smoke" podcast with Matt Barnes and Steven Jackson to talk more about his path to the player he has become today.
You can find some key takeaways and quotes below.
On going undrafted and how he landed with the Raptors
Despite being a college star at Wichita State, VanVleet went undrafted in 2016. In this interview, he revealed a little more detail on his pre-draft process, speaking on how he ended up with the Raptors.
"I really was just mad at my agent because I did 18 draft workouts. I went to 18 different teams in 30 days. I was on the road for a whole month just trying to get a crack at it and then like, the day before the draft, he was like, 'you know you might not get drafted, right?' I was like, 'what the f––– did I just do all that for?'
"We had to adjust and it was just the matter of finding a good summer league team where I could showcase and get it off at. That team ended up being Toronto, who was upfront. They were like, 'listen, you're going to get a chance to make the team. We're going to bring you to training camp and you're going to get a shot.' That was all I needed. Everything fell into my lap after that."
"... Once I got to training camp, it was a wrap. I was too hungry. They needed someone to push Kyle (Lowry) and the very first day I was at Kyle's neck. I think he respected it and everybody else respected it."
On being the Raptors' leader now
With Lowry no longer on the team, VanVleet has stepped up as the team's leader and floor general. He spoke on what that's like, as well as the things he learned from Lowry.
"It's a little different. I'm more mindful of what I'm doing when I'm not talking. I've always been vocal but now I'm noticing there's more eyes (on you), and they're kind of watching you, what you do, your body language, at all times. It's different because we don't really got vets. I'm teaching guys how to do layup lines and the plays... it's not just on the court, it's off the court, too."
On what he learned from Kyle Lowry
"He was just the ultimate pro. ... I was always a come in early and stay late kind of guy, and I remember in training camp, I would show up two hours early to practice and he would already be there, done with his workout.
"Everything that I know in the league, I learned a lot from Kyle. Not really about my game, but how to move – business things, family things, how to work out, your routine, how to recover. It was him and DeMar (DeRozan). It was like the Yin and the Yang because DeMar is totally different from Kyle. And I got the best of both with them."
On his "welcome to the NBA" moment
Every player has their "welcome to the NBA" moment, VanVleet's just happened to come as soon as his first-ever start in preseason.
"I had a few but the first one was preseason. Again, I was trying to make the team and it was our last game. We were playing the Clippers – CP (Chris Paul), Blake (Griffin) and all them. And I was the third point guard, so I don't usually check in until the second half of the game. And me and Kyle, we weren't really that close at this time, so I didn't know he wasn't playing. (Head coach Dwane Casey) writes my name on the board and I'm like 'y'all weren't gonna tell me I'm starting tonight?'
"I'm nervous as h–––. This is Chris Paul. This is as good as it gets. He wasn't even shooting, I think he had 13 points at halftime. He was double-crossing, he had me spinning around. I was so lost. I was in the locker room like, 'woo, this is different.'
"There haven't been many guys that have done me like that, but CP got me."
On earning his big contract extension
Steven Jackson asked VanVleet what it was like the day he got his four-year, $85 million contract.
"Man, it was like I was in heaven. ... Just doing it with integrity and just trying to be a real soldier all the way through, ... to be rewarded for that, that made me feel proud of myself. "
He also mentioned how he felt like he could have made more but didn't want to pass up the opportunity in the situation he was in.
"I know my worth and I felt like I was worth a lot more. I also had to have that realization where we see a lot of guys strike out because they're thinking 'that ain't the number.' I had that moment where I said, 'I can't say no to this.'
"... I signed it and that was the biggest day of my life, for me and my family, having that generational wealth."
Quick hitters
Barnes and Jackson always end the show with some quick-hitting questions. Let's see what VanVleet had to say.
Toughest player to guard: Kyrie Irving
Top five point guards of all-time: "I'm not going that far back because I'm a young guy," VanVleet stated before rattling off: Isiah Thomas, Stephen Curry, Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups and Jason Kidd. "I'm not putting Magic in there because he's 6-foot-9, he isn't making my point guard list."
Album he can listen to with no skips: Teflon Don – Rick Ross
Five dinner guests, dead or alive: Prince, Tupac, Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Kobe Bryant
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