'I cuss a lot': Fred VanVleet on his leadership style with Raptors

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet discusses how he has become a leader for the Raptors, the state of contract extension talks and and his excitement to begin the regular season.

Video Transcript

- Are you kind of eager to do something that counts soon enough?

FRED VANVLEET: Yeah. It's time, man. It's time. I had a good preseason-- great preseason, great summer. I think we're all looking forward to getting out there and laying it on the line. And we'll see what happens.

We're excited. And we're looking forward to a good turnout. The beginning of the season is an exciting time for us, for everybody, especially the fans. So we can't wait for Wednesday night.

- You guys did so much work this summer. And then obviously with the continuity on the roster and stuff, do you think that's going to pay dividends? Have you seen it pay dividends, even outside of the games [INAUDIBLE]?

FRED VANVLEET: Yeah, you would hope so. I mean, you don't do all of that to not get off to a good start. So it's always a challenge, trying to find that rhythm and that flow early on in the season. We understand.

It's a long year. But we definitely want to get off to a good start and work your way up. But we'll see.

- Schedule an early challenge--

- Coach talked about this team has to work hard and kind of outplay other teams every night. How hard is that to instill in your teammates [INAUDIBLE] as the leader of the team?

FRED VANVLEET: Yeah, it's tough. But again, I think-- I saw it quoted. Like, some experiences, you got to experience to learn the lesson. You know what I mean?

So I think last year was a great experience. You got to go through it to understand it. And we went through that some last year. So having the same group back, you would hope that you have some carryover, just understanding the value of possession and getting up for the game and being ready to go. And those are all things that will carry you on a schedule in a year that's pretty trying and difficult to get through.

- How do you bring that out in your teammates? Because they take their lead from you in a lot of--

FRED VANVLEET: Yeah.

- How do you keep it up 82 nights a year-- however many you play?

FRED VANVLEET: Yeah, I mean, first, I just do it. First, you know, I do it. First and foremost, it's just something that's been instilled in me since I was a child.

And I cuss a lot. So those are my two secrets. I try to lead by example. And when that doesn't work, I cuss.

And when that doesn't work, you know, I'll wait for the guys to get up for the games. But no, we're all in the fight together. And my teammates, I count on them just as much as they count on me. And that's what makes it a great relationship.

- How do you learn whose guys you need to cuss out and who you can't cuss out?

FRED VANVLEET: Trial and error. Trial and error. But no, you develop relationships with guys. And part of being a leader is knowing your teammates and knowing your relationships. And it's a fine line, for sure.

- In terms of that leading by example, is there something you do now that you-- I mean, I'm sure there are a lot of things-- but that you weren't doing in year one, year two that you want people to see, your teammates to see?

FRED VANVLEET: That I wasn't doing? No, not really. I try to do the same stuff. I mean, I may not do every single possession in practice like I used to.

Or I certainly let young guys get their reps in. I'm not trying to steal every rep. But for the most part, my preparation is the same.

If anything, I work harder now than I did as a young guy. So just trying to find ways to continue to climb up and come in early and set the tone-- myself, Pascal, this is something that we saw when we came in from the leaders at the time and something that we've tried to carry on as tradition.

- Would you say that last year was probably very challenging or challenged you the most to jump in that leadership role? And how does that contrast with this season, kind of having everyone come in knowing [INAUDIBLE]?

FRED VANVLEET: Yeah, I think last year was just different because it was a new team. So some of the things that you yell and preach and try to teach, they have no point of reference. I talked about that a little bit last year, where some of the things just didn't really have a point of reference. And now we do.

We had a full season. We had experiences. We had games. We had practices, hard times, good times, playoffs.

So we had a little bit of everything. And you use some of those to rely on. And there's not really any inexperience going forward this year. But we still are growing as a team. And it's still a very young team.

- What's the next step for Scottie Barnes?

FRED VANVLEET: I'm not sure. I'm not sure. I'm not really into that. So I'm probably not the best person to ask that question. But--

- From what you've seen of him--

FRED VANVLEET: I believe in him. I believe in him. I believe he can be as good as he wants to be. And all I care about is that he's a winning player, he's a great teammate, and he's a good kid and a good person.

- Fred, you mentioned working harder now than you did your first couple years. Are there maybe key ways in which you work smarter than you did?

FRED VANVLEET: Oh, yeah, For. Sure. Like I said, let the young guys take the reps. Just pace yourself, but definitely still get your individual work in early before practice starts. And make your way through practice, and just try to set the tone.

And make sure that-- it's kind of my job is to make sure we get through a good practice. And when we don't, I blame myself. So I got a pretty good track record, though.

- Is it harder to prove yourself when you're starting your career, or is it harder to be the leader of a franchise?

FRED VANVLEET: That's a great question. I don't know. I don't know.

It depends on the situation. I think it's all challenging, to be honest. I think everything presents equal challenges.

There's definitely more guys trying to prove themselves than there are leaders. So you could look at it that way. But I think, for me, trying to get in and work on my in, that was the easy part-- not easy in terms of what I had to go through, but sticking around and having a long career and keep elevating and keep growing year by year.

There's guys ahead of you. There's guys coming after you that are chasing you. So that's more challenging to me at this stage in my career. But I'm also seven years in.

- Fred, we've heard guys over the past few years talk about playing with a contract and trying to do too much. How do you-- with a contract on the line, how do you approach this season with those things on your mind?

FRED VANVLEET: I don't play for that. So I've been blessed to be in a position that my success and my individual success is pretty much based on how the team does. The way I play is relative to how the team does.

I've always won. I've always been a winner. And I'll continue to strive to be that. So if we do well, that means I'm probably playing well, and the team is doing well.

And everything else will work itself out. But that doesn't factor into my day-to-day thinking or preparation or anything. And it's working for me so far. I don't plan on changing it.

- Will you guys talk into the season? Or is that something--

FRED VANVLEET: What do you mean?

- Contract talks with the team-- will you--

FRED VANVLEET: I don't talk about contracts publicly. It's just something that I'm not going to do. But again, to give you a cliche answer, I love being a Raptor.

I love playing here. And I love Masai and Bobby and Mr. Tanenbaum and Coach Nick and all my teammates. So you know, again, my focus is on the Cleveland Cavaliers and starting off the season on a good note.

- Fred, with the way you guys play defense and how help conscious it is and the connectivity and communication required to execute it, how hard was it last year having to work in a bunch of new pieces? And how much different is it going to be starting out this year with a bunch of the same guys back?

FRED VANVLEET: Yeah, it's tough. I think for me, having a good understanding of the system, trying to share that understanding was difficult because, again, you have to go through live reps and breakdowns. And you have to make a ton of mistakes before you can learn it. But I think we're in a good spot now.

Pretty much everybody has a understanding of what we're trying to do. But it is-- it's a lot. And Coach asks a lot. That's what makes him one of the best.

And we've got to continue to try to do it every single day and make our strides. But it's a long journey. And I think we're in a good spot starting off.

- Fred, you said you didn't want to give away the game plan against Boston last game. But what was the biggest offensive adjustment you guys think you made between game 1 against Boston this preseason and then a couple nights ago that you guys had success with?

FRED VANVLEET: I don't know. That's preseason, bro. I don't know.

I don't really remember, to be honest. But I think my first stint in-- I know when I checked out in Boston, it was 22 to 20. And when I checked out the other night, it was 90 to 91 or something like that.

So there you go. You can break down the film and come up with your own conclusions. I'm not going to do that for you.

- What's with the WNBA shirt? Do you rep the [INAUDIBLE]?

FRED VANVLEET: Yeah, just supporting. Shelby gave me this, so shoutout to Shelby. I just thought it was a dope shirt.

- Hey, Fred, you talked about breaking down film [INAUDIBLE]. What's the first thing you look for when you go to do that?

FRED VANVLEET: Turnovers.

- Turnovers?

FRED VANVLEET: Yeah.

- Yours?

FRED VANVLEET: Yeah.

- Or the ones [INAUDIBLE]?

FRED VANVLEET: No, mine. Yeah, for sure. Turnovers. But I usually-- I like to watch other film. I watch myself, but I watch a lot of other film first, like opposing team-- game-planning, scouting, what they do and how they're playing, and things like that. But if I'm watching myself, I go for the turnovers first.

- Is there a read that you used to miss that [INAUDIBLE]?

FRED VANVLEET: A read that I used to miss? No, not that I could think of. I definitely had to learn how fast guys closed the gap or taking that extra dribble into the crowd, things like that. So I'm a little more sure with it now than I was, but learning, for sure.