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After signing a new contract with the Houston Rockets worth up to three years and $130 million, veteran NBA point guard Fred VanVleet admits there’s more pressure in his new situation.
But with that pressure comes opportunity. This week, VanVleet worked out with new backcourt mate Jalen Green, and he’s setting lofty goals for the Rockets entering the 2023-24 season.
Specifically, VanVleet wants the Rockets, who finished at the bottom of the Western Conference with a lowly 22-60 record in 2022-23, to compete for a spot in the 2024 playoffs.
Here’s part of what VanVleet said on an episode of The Pivot podcast, which was released on Friday afternoon:
There’s definitely more pressure. When you sign on that dotted line, nine figures is pressure. From a franchise, a city, an ownership standpoint, they’re putting a lot of money behind me and what I’m able to contribute.
What I will say, though, is I think that being in the spot that the team is in right now. … I think it’s really only up from here. If you add to that, put some vets in there like we did with the young crew they’ve got, I’m excited about some of the things we’ll be able to do. It’s like that sweet spot of trying to turn young talent into something, and I think that’s one thing that I’ll be able to do is get the best out of my teammates.
We’ve got to get the Houston Rockets in the playoffs. That’s where my mind is at. I’ve been in the lab this week.
VanVleet averaged 19.3 points (36.7% on 3-pointers), 6.7 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 2.2 turnovers as a full-time starter with the Raptors over the previous four seasons.
But he’s also well regarded for his defensive abilities and his leadership, and new head coach Ime Udoka will lean on VanVleet in those areas as they try to transition the Rockets back to relevancy.
In the podcast, VanVleet referred to leaving Toronto as a “tough decision” before admitting that he thought it was time for a change of scenery on both sides. The complete episode can be viewed below.
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