Point guard Fred VanVleet returned to what didn’t work for him with the Toronto Raptors.
Via the free agent market, the 29-year-old athlete recently decided to end his association with the only Canadian team in the NBA and join the Houston Rockets.
The Sportsnet network then reported that VanVleet and several Reports veterans were very upset about the hiring of the team’s young players in 2022–23.
On Friday, the American revisited this story during his appearance on The Pivot podcast.
“Like many things, I think it’s gotten out of hand, and if you don’t address a rumor, it automatically becomes true,” VanVleet said. All I have to say is that it was a disappointing season for a team that finished fifth the year before.
“There was a mix of guys who had been there for a while and new players trying to make their mark. It just didn’t work. It wasn’t the right mix and the chemistry wasn’t right. Not bad as far as I can tell.”
“I still have very good relationships with everyone who was there, but wanted to name the one who played with the Raptors for seven seasons. If there were any issues with me personally, they were never addressed.”
VanVleet signed a three-year, $130 million deal with the Rockets.
“This is the right place for me,” he said. For me it is a breath of fresh air.”