Fred VanVleet: Embracing the Big Picture with the Houston Rockets
Freddie VanVleet stood silently, disappointment etched on his face. The Houston Rockets had just lost a nail-biter to the Milwaukee Bucks – a game in which they had led by double digits – and the sting of the defeat lingered. The frustration wasn’t about missing a final shot, or even about the team’s overall performance. It was about a single pass, a slight miscalculation on an inbounds play. For VanVleet, who prides himself on precision, the misstep stood out like a buzzing fly in the locker room.
"Just wasn’t the best pass," VanVleet admitted, shaking his head. "Gotta give him a better pass.”
The casual observer might have seen his reaction as a typical display of competitive spirit, but it pointed to a deeper truth – a commitment to winning that far transcended individual performance.
This season, VanVleet, a seasoned veteran with an NBA championship under his belt, is trying a new approach with the youthful Houston Rockets. His days of being the leading scorer and defining the offense are fading. He’s chosen to step back, letting his younger teammates take the reins and find their footing. It’s a selfless act, a conscious decision to prioritize the growth and development of the team over his own stardom.
This approach was a stark contrast to his past experiences with the Toronto Raptors. As a key member of their championship run in 2019, VanVleet learned firsthand the challenges of guiding a team of diverse personalities with different aspirations. By his own admission, he didn’t always nurture a cohesive environment, favouring an old-school approach that prioritized intensity over collaboration.
"I’ve been in that position before," VanVleet stated. "We had a lot of guys trying to figure it out at the same time in Toronto, and lost a little bit of what held us together in that process. I didn’t want to make that same mistake here."
This year’s Rockets, brimming with young talent like Alperen Şengün, Jalen Green and Tari Eason, face a similar journey. They are a team eager to prove themselves but still navigating the complexities of NBA basketball.
Despite being one of the best point guards in the league, VanVleet has embraced his role as a facilitator. He’s directing traffic, setting up his teammates, and focusing on the defensive end. His leadership is easing their transition, guiding them through the highs and lows of a demanding season.
"It’s not about numbers," he asserted. "It’s about finding what works for everybody, how everyone can benefit playing together."
Head coach Ime Udoka, who arrived in Houston alongside VanVleet, has fostered a culture of communication and feedback. Their relationship goes beyond coach-player dynamics. They regularly engage in dialogue, exchanging notes on player development and fine-tuning the team’s offensive system. While VanVleet’s usage rate and conventional statistics have dipped, his impact remains undeniable.
The Rockets, powered by VanVleet’s defensive prowess and refined game leadership, are exceeding expectations this year.
“The best teams I’ve been a part of,” VanVleet explained, “get it through the system. We don’t have all the answers yet, but we’re finding what works. "
He hasn’t officially hung up his guns, however.
In key moments, VanVleet can still recapture his former self. His performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder stood testament to his undimmed brilliance. He exploded for 38 points, demonstrating his scoring prowess while orchestrating a critical win for Houston.
VanVleet’s story is not about relinquishing control or shrinking in the spotlight. It’s about understanding his role within a dynamic team composition and embracing a path towards a collective triumph. His choices are proving that leadership comes in many forms – and sometimes, the loudest voice is the one who knows when to step back and let others shine.
