Latest news with #VanVleet
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Local residents gain more insights into Fred VanVleet with his appearance at the Diamonds Storytelling Gale in Rockford
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — We in Rockford all know who Fred VanVleet is, the Houston Rockets guard who is an NBA champion and has been an NBA All-Star who launched his basketball career here at Auburn High School. Thursday night, many folks got to know him on a deeper level at the third annual Diamonds Storytelling Gala in Rockford. VanVleet is known for always having 'bet on himself', so it's only fitting that this Diamonds event was held at Hard Rock Casino Rockford in the live was the third annual Diamonds event put on by the Founders Commission, a night to spotlight someone who grew up in the Rockford Region, and who has gone on to have tremendous success while also giving back to the Rockford first year the special guest was U.S. Navy Top Gun instructor Michael Andrews. Last year that individual was Rockford native and Grammy Award winner Michelle Williams.'This Diamonds Gala is really a great flagship program of the Founders Commission,' said the President of The Founders Commission Nick Povalitis. 'It really embodies what we're trying to do which is bring people back home.'The event emcee for the third straight year was ESPN SportsCenter anchor and nearby Roscoe, Illinois native Nicole Briscoe. Briscoe is now also on the Founders Commission Board.'Being here and being inspired by the stories inspired me to want to do more…be a part of the scholarship committee. Be as much a part of this event as much as I possibly could.'The dress for the event was formal, but everyone was encouraged to wear sneakers as a tribute to the event, two Oregon High School students received scholarships from the Founders Commission. Povalitis announced that the Founders Commission is starting up a Hall of Fame that will consist of people from the Rockford Region who have gone on to do big things in the fields of entertainment, the arts, business and sports.A check for more than $19,000 was presented to the nonprofit VanVleet Family Foundation. That money will be poured back into the the highlight of the night was Briscoe's informal sit-down interview with VanVleet and a question-and-answer session with the said he began betting on himself at a very young age.'I definitely remember being 6-7-8 years old and telling my mom I was going to the NBA.'He emphasized the importance of having the support of a family and of other people in order to have success, but he says in the end, it's that inner drive that counts the most as to how much success one achieves.'If you're waiting for someone else to give you that push or that confidence, then you probably don't have any in the first place.'VanVleet was asked if he wanted to coach one day. He said he'd rather not because he doesn't always want to be yelling at people. He much more prefers teaching basketball than coaching was asked how he feels he's done off the court as a partner, father, son, and in his other relationships. He believes he's done a great job as a father, but there is room for improvement elsewhere. When asked whether or not he would encourage his young son Fred Jr. to pursue an NBA career, VanVleet said his son is more interested in baseball right now. VanVleet says whatever his son chooses to do, he needs to work at it. Sometimes now VanVleet takes his son to parks to pitch baseballs to him and to play said that when he was a free agent a couple years ago, the Chicago Bulls never reached out to him.'They never called.' (laughter from the crowd). 'They never called.'He was asked about the shoutout he gave to Rockford on national TV right after he and the Toronto Raptors won the NBA championship when he stared into the camera and proclaimed, 'Rockford, this one's for you!''This city made me who I am,' said VanVleet. 'It's given me my character and my edge and my discipline, so it's like, at a certain level I owe that much to put the city on the map as well.'VanVleet says there are so many things he wants to do in the future in terms of giving back to Rockford, giving back to people in general that he sometimes can't sleep at night thinking about them. Rockford is a city VanVleet keeps returning to every summer after his NBA season ends to relax and to reconnect because this city means so much to him. That was evident again Thursday VanVleet will be hosting his annual 'Bet on Yourself' youth summer basketball camp in Rockford on Saturday at the UW-Health Sports Factory in downtown Founders Commission is a certified 501©(3) charitable organization that celebrates and leverages the Rockford region's excellence and ingenuity in business, arts and entertainment, and sports for brand, economic and social good. For more information visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NBA champion and Rockford native Fred VanVleet returned for gala event
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — NBA Champion and Rockford native Fred VanVleet returned to his hometown to headline the 3rd annual Diamonds Storytelling Gala. This year's event was held at Hard Rock Live on Thursday. The annual gala highlights individuals who grew up in the stateline who have gone on to reach the highest level of their industries. 'It embodies what we're trying to do which is again bring people back home give them reasons to engage with platforms whether it's the gala event or something else give them a reason to come back home regardless of if they live here or not if they've gone on to professional athlete stature or if they're world class musicians or the people that put gear on mars all of that level of achievement needs a collective home and we think founders commission can be that collective home,' said Founders Commission President Nick Povalitis. 'I'm honored to partner with Founders Commission to headline this year's DIAMONDS gala,' said VanVleet. 'My family and I are proud to help inspire the next generation of success stories, whether they're achieved on the court, in business or in the community.' Roscoe native and ESPN SportsCenter anchor Nicole Briscoe emceed the event, which featured an on-stage conversation and Q&A session with VanVleet. Proceeds from the night went to the Founders Commission, and they will donate a portion of this year's proceeds to the VanVleet Family Foundation, which helps youth through educational opportunities, athletics, and career development. This was the third annual Diamonds Gala. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
In 2025 offseason, what should the Rockets pay Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams?
In a Houston Rockets offseason preview episode of the Game Theory Podcast, The Athletic's Sam Vecenie makes the case for what new contracts with Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams could look like. Vecenie believes a new VanVleet deal should come in at three years and between $90 and $100 million in total value, while Adams could be at the same length and between $42 and $45 million. Both players are now 31 years old, so a three-season deal could potentially carry each through the remainder of his prime NBA years. Advertisement 'Adams would basically take up the money you're saving by redoing Fred's deal,' Vecenie says of the combined figures and their impact on the Rockets. The Rockets currently have a team option for VanVleet at $44.9 million for the 2025-26 season, and it has been reported that Houston could look to negotiate a contract extension for more years and at a lower annual value. The upside to VanVleet would be locking in more guaranteed money in total, while the advantage to the Rockets would be lowering his payroll number next season. To Vecenie's point, should VanVleet's 2025-26 annual figure be reduced from $44.9 million to something just above $30 million, that gap would nearly match the starting salary in his proposed Adams deal. Adams made $12.6 million this season, and the NBA's non-taxpayer mid-level exception (NT-MLE) this offseason is expected to be in the range of a $14.1-million starting salary. Many teams have access to the NT-MLE, so a contract in that general vicinity would seem realistic, on an annual basis. And from Houston's perspective, it's unlikely they would ask or expect Adams to take a paycut after an elite playoff performance. Advertisement It's worth noting that VanVleet had a very strong playoff run, as well. However, his larger salary compared to Adams could make it more likely that he takes a paycut, and especially because there aren't many teams with significant salary cap space this offseason. In the absence of external market leverage, that could drive down his annual cost, on a relative basis. By lowering the combined figure of the VanVleet and Adams contracts, that could provide Houston with additional space (relative to the NBA's tax thresholds) to help fill out the rest of its roster. Relative to 2024-25, the Rockets will be a much more expensive team in 2025-26 due to salary increases for fifth-year players Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green — which makes saving money at other spots more of a priority. Teams can exclusively negotiate with their own pending free agents (in this case, VanVleet and Adams) immediately after the conclusion of the 2025 NBA Finals. Then, on June 30, negotiations between free agents and other teams can begin. In a perfect world, the Rockets would reach deals with VanVleet and Adams before that later date. The question will be if everyone is on the same financial page. Advertisement It has been widely reported that VanVleet and the Rockets want to stick together, and Houston has expressed optimism that Adams wants to return, as well. More: Rockets reportedly remain optimistic that Steven Adams wants to return This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: 2025 offseason: What should Houston pay Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams?
USA Today
09-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
In 2025 offseason, what should the Rockets pay Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams?
In a Houston Rockets offseason preview episode of the Game Theory Podcast, The Athletic's Sam Vecenie makes the case for what new contracts with Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams could look like. Vecenie believes a new VanVleet deal should come in at three years and between $90 and $100 million in total value, while Adams could be at the same length and between $42 and $45 million. Both players are now 31 years old, so a three-season deal could potentially carry each through the remainder of his prime NBA years. 'Adams would basically take up the money you're saving by redoing Fred's deal,' Vecenie says of the combined figures and their impact on the Rockets. The Rockets currently have a team option for VanVleet at $44.9 million for the 2025-26 season, and it has been reported that Houston could look to negotiate a contract extension for more years and at a lower annual value. The upside to VanVleet would be locking in more guaranteed money in total, while the advantage to the Rockets would be lowering his payroll number next season. To Vecenie's point, should VanVleet's 2025-26 annual figure be reduced from $44.9 million to something just above $30 million, that gap would nearly match the starting salary in his proposed Adams deal. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle Adams made $12.6 million this season, and the NBA's non-taxpayer mid-level exception (NT-MLE) this offseason is expected to be in the range of a $14.1-million starting salary. Many teams have access to the NT-MLE, so a contract in that general vicinity would seem realistic, on an annual basis. And from Houston's perspective, it's unlikely they would ask or expect Adams to take a paycut after an elite playoff performance. It's worth noting that VanVleet had a very strong playoff run, as well. However, his larger salary compared to Adams could make it more likely that he takes a paycut, and especially because there aren't many teams with significant salary cap space this offseason. In the absence of external market leverage, that could drive down his annual cost, on a relative basis. By lowering the combined figure of the VanVleet and Adams contracts, that could provide Houston with additional space (relative to the NBA's tax thresholds) to help fill out the rest of its roster. Relative to 2024-25, the Rockets will be a much more expensive team in 2025-26 due to salary increases for fifth-year players Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green — which makes saving money at other spots more of a priority. Teams can exclusively negotiate with their own pending free agents (in this case, VanVleet and Adams) immediately after the conclusion of the 2025 NBA Finals. Then, on June 30, negotiations between free agents and other teams can begin. In a perfect world, the Rockets would reach deals with VanVleet and Adams before that later date. The question will be if everyone is on the same financial page. It has been widely reported that VanVleet and the Rockets want to stick together, and Houston has expressed optimism that Adams wants to return, as well. Because the Rockets are likely to operate above the salary cap, no matter what (due in large part to the raises for Sengun and Green), there isn't much incentive to letting VanVleet and/or Adams leave for another team — since Houston wouldn't have the ability to use anywhere close to that same money to fill those rotation roles. In the aftermath of a 52-30 season with the No. 2 record in the Western Conference, the Rockets are largely operating with a win-now approach. To say the least, VanVleet and Adams are quite helpful to that ambition.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA rumors: Fred VanVleet expected to do huge favor for Houston Rockets to help boost roster for title run
It seems very likely Fred VanVleet could return the favor of the Houston Rockets overpay two years ago, so they can have a real shot at an NBA Finals run next season. It is certainly no coincidence that the Rockets have gotten far better as a team since point guard Fred VanVleet arrived two years ago. Sure, head coach Ime Udoka, Jalen Green, and Alperen Sengun deserve a lot of credit. But the former Toronto Raptors star is a high-impact veteran who has helped lead the way on and off the court. Advertisement Also Read: NBA games today – Get details on the upcoming playoffs schedule In 2023, Houston overpaid for VanVleet in NBA free agency when they gave him a massive three-year deal worth $180 million that included a club option before the third season. The $44 million the 31-year-old is set to make next season is way above what he should be getting paid. So it makes sense for them to opt out of the final year. Which could lead to the one-time All-Star taking his talents elsewhere. However, a new report suggests he is likely to return, and at a team-friendly rate. Fred VanVleet stats (2024-25): 14.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 35% 3PT Fred VanVleet to take discounted rate in new Houston Rockets contract? Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images 'The strong expectation is that VanVleet will remain with Houston after the strong leadership he provided to a team that unexpectedly won 52 games. And snagged the No. 2 seed in the West,' Jake Fischer reported on Friday. 'But pushing the option back to the brink of free agency does leave open the possibility that the Rockets could include VanVleet's monster 2025-26 salary in a significant trade. If such a deal materialized around the draft.' Advertisement Fred VanVleet contract: Three years, $180 million 'The more likely scenario is that the Rockets decline the option. And re-sign VanVleet to a new multiyear deal at a lower annual salary to create some useful wiggle room in relation to the league's luxury tax aprons.' If the nine-year veteran returned on a deal closer to $30 million, which is still a big number for a player of his level, that would be a huge help for the organization. In a way, it would be him paying them back for the overpay of the last two years, by taking much less to get more years guaranteed. Also Read:: Updated 2025 NBA Playoffs power rankings: Where do Knicks and Nuggets land after Game 1 upset wins?
