Fred VanVleet on contract extension talks with Raptors

Raptors PG Fred VanVleet discusses his knee heading into the 2022-23 season, the status of his contract extension, his early impressions of Christian Koloko and relishing his role as an elite catch and shoot threat. Check out all of the Raptors media day availabilities on our YouTube channel.

Video Transcript

MICHAEL GRANGE: Hey, Fred.

FRED VANFLEET: What's up, Mike?

MICHAEL GRANGE: Michael Grange from SportsNet. Just wanted to ask you about your summer and coming off the way the season ended for you with various kinds of injuries. What did you learn about the load you took on last year and with a nice long off season? How did you apply it and how are you a little bit different based on your years experience?

FRED VANFLEET: Yeah, I think first and foremost, just with the adrenaline and the way that the season was going and just the last push we made to even get to that position that we were in. I think I kind of zoned out a little bit in terms of listening to my body. So definitely had to listen to my body once I had to sit down and go home and we lost and I had to go see the doctor and all of those things. Just to plan out the rest of the summer.

But had to get stronger. You know, I had to make some changes. And I did those things. And I feel great. So obviously we know how it ended last year. But at the end of the day, just having a good summer, having time to recover and not only get back to where I was, but try to be better, to handle what my role is on this team.

DOUG SMITH: Hey, Fred. Doug Smith with Toronto Star. How are you, sir?

FRED VANFLEET: I'm good, Doug. What's up?

DOUG SMITH: Not much, man. I think the last time we talked concerning your extension you said if they want to talk, I'll listen. Are you listening? Are you talking? Where does that stand? And what will go into any decision you might make?

FRED VANFLEET: I mean, I'll just say that I love being a Raptor. I have a great relationship with management, ownership, coaching staff. Like there's nothing I could really ever complain about being on this team. But I'm definitely not going to speak on contractual things publicly. So you guys will know when it's time to know. But I'm happy where I am. And I think it's a mutual love.

- [INAUDIBLE] is a lot of responsibility. [INAUDIBLE]

FRED VANFLEET: Well, I think in some aspects I'm here to fill a role, you know what I mean? Like I'm not sure that I was drafted or traded for or selected to be the face of the team, but I'm here. I've stuck around. I work extremely hard. And I've grown into some of these roles that I've acquired over the years. So again, I think here being the leader, being a guy who can be a coach on the floor, understanding what Coach Nurse and the staff wants from our team and what our players want to do out there. I think I can be the leader in terms of that and just helping guys grow and get better.

AARON ROSE: Hey, Fred. Aaron Rose, SI.com. You talked about sacrifice at the end of last year and how that's what it takes to win a championship. We hear guys wanting bigger roles, people taking jumps. You're sort of the point guard and a leader. How do you make sure that everyone is satisfied with their role on the team?

FRED VANFLEET: We win games. I think it's that simple. So when you're winning, everybody's happy. And when you're not, you know, that stuff will figure itself out. So I never really been a guy to like have to be disgruntled or anything. So I can't really speak to that. But I think just if we win, I think everybody's happy. I think there's enough room for everybody.

We have a lot of talent. I think it's a good problem to have. But we have to find a way to play championship level basketball, sure. And that definitely looks different than what we did at times last year. So camp starts tomorrow and we'll see what it looks like.

- Fred, on your right here. [INAUDIBLE] in regards to the possible extension, I just want to know, how do you see your own future in this league align with the future of this team? Masai said it's a young team, not yet ready to win a championship this season but ready to make a jump. How do you [? pondered ?] that in your negotiations or just your reflection?

FRED VANFLEET: Again, I'm 28, you know I mean? I don't-- I know it might feel old on this team, but I feel as good as I felt in a long time. I had a great summer. So I definitely don't feel old. I don't see myself as an old player. And I'm certainly not old in terms of the role that I have.

So it's a fairly new experience for me, really my first year at the helm by myself without Kyle in the back court with me. So this would be my second. And again, I'm not-- I don't know if I have to say it again, I'm not really going to speak on contract things in terms of those details. But just where I am in this team, I feel great. I feel like I could fit here and I know my value and what I bring to the table.

JOSH LEWENBERG: Hey, Fred. Josh Lewenberg, TSN. Last year you guys went into camp with a very young team, a new team, and it showed early in the season. Now I think you guys lead the league in continuity, 13 guys back from last season. Nick was just here talking about a lot of you guys spending serious time together working out during the off season. How much do you think that continuity and chemistry translates? And how much do you think it'll pay dividends early in the year?

FRED VANFLEET: I hope a lot. I hope a lot. There should be less explaining and confusion on certain things that we do. Coach [? asks ?] new things every year, so obviously that'll be an adjustment. But for the most part, we should be pretty familiar with the things that we're going to do, whether that be practice or in the games. And you will hope that will give you a little bit of a advantage early on to win some games. So again, I'm excited to get to camp, see what our defense looks like, see how we're moving and flying around. And the offense will take time, as it always does. And we'll find the right lineups and flow and rhythm that we think can help play championship basketball.

VIVEK JACOB: Vivek Jacob, Raptors.com. Hey, Fred. Last season, at the end of the season, you were asked to review the team's style of play and you said it's a tool in the toolbox. It shouldn't be the only tool. Looking at the guys over the summer, do you feel like there's been skills added, that there's different tools that are going to be brought to the table this season?

FRED VANFLEET: Yeah, absolutely. Again, I think that's all part of exploring how we're going to play and what that will look like. So we had a lot to work with last year. We got I think everybody that I've seen so far has gotten better, which is always a good sign to see. And you know, it's my job to go out there and try to make it work as best as I can while I'm on the floor. But I'm definitely not the coach. We have the best coach in the NBA to figure out all of that stuff. So Nick's got his hands full.

VIVEK JACOB: And specifically on one very different tool, Christian Koloko. What have you made of the size and strength that he kind of brings to the table so far?

FRED VANFLEET: Well, he's big, right? We've been asking for a big, so we got one. So he's-- listen, he can really run. He's athletic. He really knows how to play. He listens. He asks questions. So I had a good time with him over the summer, working with him and just trying to get him up to speed because I think that we can use him if he ends up being ready. So again, those young guys development is kind of all up to them and how it fits within the team. But I like what I've seen from him so far. He's a good kid too.

LINDSAY DUNN: Hey, Fred. Lindsay from City News. A lot has changed this season, but this is the first time I think I'm at least seeing the number 6 on the jersey, because we haven't seen it yet. What does it mean to you to be able to wear it this season and honor Bill?

FRED VANFLEET: Oh, man it's incredible. It makes sense for us, right? Just being in the sixth, but just for what he meant to the world. It's hard to find a better icon and a better ambassador for the game and just for humanity and the barriers that he broke and the things that he had to endure so that guys like myself can even be sitting here in front of you today. It's hard to put into words what exactly he meant. But just an incredible human being and a guy that definitely needs to be held up in the highest respect till the end of time. So he had an incredible journey, an incredible life, and meant so much to so many people.

- Hey, Fred. Lewis [INAUDIBLE] Raptors Public. Last media day you were asked what the definition of the guy was about Pascal. And you said anyone who takes I think 40 shots and the coach doesn't blink. And then in the playoffs last year, he did and he shot really well. It seemed like your prediction came true. How would you say Pascal grew into the role? And did it feel like that media day was sort of prediction of what would happen?

FRED VANFLEET: I mean, most of my predictions do come true. Just I don't know if you notice or not. But I mean, listen, there's things that you guys are pretty good, right? You guys, you watch the game, you spend time around the game. Many of you for many years, Doug.

But there's just a different level of understanding when you're just in between the lines. So there's things that we see and that we feel and that we know that it'll be hard for you guys to ever really understand. But I think Pascal looked pretty good to me last year. So it was really good to see him back. All you guys are back in love with him again, which is great to see. And we just want to keep it going. And he's gotten better.

So I'll just say that. I'm not going to put a whole bunch of pressure on P. He can handle it, but he's gotten better from what I've seen.

- [INAUDIBLE]

MIKE GANTER: Hey, Fred. Mike Ganter from the Toronto Sun. This off season, did it almost feel like sort of a step back to your benchmark days? Because it seems like you guys, as a group, spent a lot more time together. And was that orchestrated by the team or did that just come about?

FRED VANFLEET: Yeah, I think a little bit of both. I think it's just back to regularly scheduled programming. And we got our asses kicked. We can make excuses all day and injuries and whatever, but we lost to a team that we thought we could beat. We lost. And so it was time to get back to the drawing board.

COVID slowed down. We got out of Tampa, so it was like our first like regular real off season back together that we're used to having. And so myself spending time in LA, Pascal being in LA, it added to the young guys. And then everybody else is young anyway. So they're going to be there Gary Trent, OG, Precious came. So we really have most of our whole team together for some time, a couple of days throughout the summer. And I think that's valuable reps and just time together to build towards the season.

- [INAUDIBLE]

FRED VANFLEET: Yeah. Right, that's a great asset to have. A great relationship. He was already extended family, you know him and Pascal have a great relationship over time. But now for him to actually be wearing a Raptors shirt, I think it just is the next step towards adding real talent to our development program, which was already viewed as one of the best in the league. So to add another guy to that, I think you'll see some of the payout this year.

SAMSON FOLK: Hey, Fred. Samson Folk, Raptors Republic. Much was made last year about how your catch and shoot 3 point percentage was over 50% for quite some time. And you've been one of the best catch and shooters of all shooters in general in the league. Are you excited with Pascal, with Scottie's ascension, with OG, to be able to play off of those guys a little bit more and to truly be able to-- it's one of the NBA's best weapons is your catch and shoot shot, so I'm curious what you think about that.

FRED VANFLEET: Yeah. I think, again, just more of what we've been doing. Like we found success. We got to zero in on what that means for everybody. There are certain things that we do well. There are certain things that we try that we don't do so well. So I'm not one of those guys that needs to play with the ball or needs to play without the ball. Like I'm just a basketball player and I can make it work. And the funny part is this thing is growing like I'm the one dominating the ball the whole game. I don't even feel like I had a ball that much. So maybe I'm the crazy one.

But definitely I think keep creating catch and shoots, that's the easiest shot on the court for me. And we'll see how many of those we can create. But we definitely got the weapons and the personnel to do that. So we keep growing. We got to work. We got to get to work. And it's not going to be pretty. So you guys can write whatever you want, but I think we start early, we start getting to work with the goal in mind to build a championship caliber team. Thanks guys.