The Toronto Raptors won a team-record 59 games on their way to the 1 seed in the East, thanks in large part to the contributions of a Fred VanVleet-led "Bench Mob."
Their bench led the league in net rating. VanVleet ranked third in net rating among qualified players.
| Fred VanVleet | nERD | FG% | TS% | PPG | PER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | -0.8 | 35.10% | 44.30% | 2.9 | 10.5 |
| 2018 | 3.4 | 42.60% | 55.60% | 8.6 | 15.9 |
Fun Fact: Since January 1, only five players have shot a better percentage from downtown than VanVleet. He's shot 44.9% on 4.2 three-point attempts per game during that span.
After playing a limited role last season, VanVleet came on as one of the most important role players in the entire league in 2018. His ability to stretch the floor adds another dimension off the bench, as he upped his three-point percentage to 41.4% this season.
The Raps are making a push to get their entire Bench Mob to take home sixth-man of the year, but of the group, VanVleet has the best odds. Even if he doesn't take home the Sixth Man or Most Improved Player, there is no denying that VanVleet took a huge step forward in his sophomore campaign.