“Fred VanVleet has scored 30+ points in 6 of his last 8 games”: Raptors guard puts foot on accelerator as All-Star Weekend approaches, averaging 31/5/8 on 47/46/97 shooting

On his way to becoming the face of the franchise, Fred VanVleet looks like the Toronto Raptors’ new All-star point guard.

The Toronto Raptors welcomed the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. The Pelicans (14-26) were coming off a 101-96 home win over a depleted Golden State Warriors on Thursday but had lost four of five before that.

With a comeback win over the undermanned Utah Jazz on Friday, led by VanVleet’s first career triple-double, the Raptors were on a 5-0 run.

Also read: Kevin Durant awarded Team USA Basketball Player of the Year by former Head Coach Gregg Popovich for stupendous gold-medal performance at Tokyo 2020

Consecutive victories over Milwaukee Bucks, San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks, and Los Angeles Clippers, making it to five straight wins just for the second time this season, the Toronto team is now 20-17 after the 105-101 win over the Pelicans.

This is their longest winning run of the season on the back of All-Star level performances by their new leader.

I told ‘em it’s all in the wrist, wrist 🔥 @FredVanVleet last 6 games:

31.2 PPG
6.7 APG
5.8 3PG
47/44/96%

⭐️RT TO VOTE ⭐️
#NBAAllStar | #FredVanVleet pic.twitter.com/hG4cyw0oZS

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 10, 2022

Fred VanVleet for All-Star.

Fred VanVleet continued where he left off against the Jazz, the 27-year-old point guard had another 30-point game at night, making it his 5th one in the last 6-games. Having averages of 31/5/8 on 47/46/97 shooting in the last 8 games, he looks determined to make it to the All-Star weekend in Cleveland.

Fred VanVleet has scored 30+ points in 6 of his last 8 games.

It’s been nearly a month (Dec. 13) since he played a game in which he attempted fewer than 10 3s or made fewer than 4. He’s 47-for-103 (46%) over his last 8 games.

All-Star.

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) January 10, 2022

The role player from the 2019 Championship winning Raptors is enjoying the leadership role since Kyle Lowry’s departure in the off-season to the Miami Heat.

Fred has enjoyed being one of a few senior players in a very young squad and is leading them to what now looks like a Playoff or at least a Play-in spot.

Also read: “Kyle Kuzma has blossomed into a star without LeBron James there to hold him back!”: NBA Twitter in awe as Washington forward becomes first Wizards player to have a 25 point, 20 rebound game since Chris Webber in 1997

The point guard from Wichita State who went undrafted in the 2016 Draft might or might not make it to the All-Star Game and the playoffs this season but has clearly shown the Raptors fans and the team management that he could be the new face of the franchise to build around.

About the author

Akash Murty

An Electrical and Electronics Engineer by degree, Akash Murty is an NBA Editor at The SportsRush. Previously a Software Engineer, Murty couldn’t keep himself away from sports, and his knack for writing and putting his opinion forward brought him to the TSR. A big Soccer enthusiast, his interest in basketball developed late, as he got access to a hoop for the first time at 17. Following this, he started watching basketball at the 2012 Olympics, which transitioned to NBA, and he became a fan of the game as he watched LeBron James dominate the league. Him being an avid learner of the game and ritually following the league for around a decade, he now writes articles ranging from throwbacks, and live game reports, to gossip. LA Lakers are his favourite basketball team, while Chelsea has his heart in football. He also likes travelling, reading fiction, and sometimes cooking.

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