Many NBA fans will have heard about Fred VanVleet. The 6’1 point guard is well known for his time with the Toronto Raptors, which makes sense considering that they were able to win the NBA championship in 2019. He was recently signed on by the Houston Rockets who gave him a 3-year contract worth around $128 million.
Since he has spent his career in the East but also faced the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, Fred is one of the few NBA players who has gotten into playoff matchups against both LeBron James and Stephen Curry. When he was recently interviewed, he broke down aspects of King James’ game and playstyle.
Considering that he was actually on the court and witnessed events firsthand, fans should certainly want to know what Fred VanVleet had to say on the subject. Let us take a closer look and find out.
Fred VanVleet prefers guarding Stephen Curry over LeBron James
There is no denying that LeBron James and Stephen Curry are the most famous players active in the NBA. Both of them have impressive resumes and the same amount of championship rings. However, that does not mean the experience of playing against one can be compared to playing against the other.
Fred has been in the NBA since 2017 and has likely witnessed both these NBA greats face off in consecutive NBA Finals. While the normal NBA fan would opine that it is equally hard to stop either of them, VanVleet shared how his personal opinion differed from that notion.
“He had a 2nd or 3rd quarter against us one of them playoff series where he decided he was just going to shoot turn-around jumpers the whole quarter and there was just nothing you could do. Off glass, all net like you knew a move he was going to do and he still did it and there’s nothing you could do.”
Fred’s perspective is certainly valid. Some of LeBron’s performances against the Raptors were so impressive that the team was nicknamed “LeBronto.” VanVleet further emphasized his point and indicated that guarding Steph was easier for him.
“But Bron definitely gave us a couple of those performances when it was like whatchu gonna do especially me like what the h*ll what am I going to do? There ain’t nothing I can do you know what I’m saying? Steph is a little different I feel a little bit better cuz he’s closer to my size but yeah Bron was on a different time.”
“He had a 2nd or 3rd quarter against us where he decided he was going to shoot turnaround jumpers…You knew what move he was gonna do, he still did it and there’s nothing you could do.”
Fred VanVleet on facing LeBron James in the playoffs
(via @thepivot)pic.twitter.com/HZWScjPr13
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) July 9, 2023
It is tougher for a 6’1 point guard like VanVleet to stop a 6’9 LeBron James. He had no choice but to watch as LeBron took the same shot multiple times in the same quarter.