Club 520 Podcast: Fred VanVleet on WINNING NBA Finals, GUARDING Steph Curry, Durant vs. SGA

Release Date: February 12, 2026
Hosts: Jeff Teague, DJ Wells, Bishop B Henn
Special Guest: Fred VanVleet (Houston Rockets PG, NBA Champion, All-Star)

Episode Overview

This episode of Club 520 features NBA champion and All-Star Fred VanVleet. In a vibrant and real conversation, Fred dives deep into the realities of his basketball journey—discussing his unconventional path to the NBA, life as an underdog, his NBA Finals experiences, the evolution of the league, player development, NIL impact, the All-Star selection process, and guarding all-time greats like Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving. Fred also dishes candid insights on team dynamics, talks KD vs. SGA, and weighs in on changes in the NBA—from G League shifts to All-Star Weekend controversies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fred’s Early Days and Underdog Mentality

• Rockford Roots & AAU Circuit:
  Growing up outside the Chicago spotlight, Fred talks about choosing to play with friends rather than chasing shoe-sponsored AAU teams.

  “By the time I got to the point where I was like a teenager, I thought I was grown. … I’d rather just play with my homies. Cause I’m not from the city, I’m from Rockford.” (09:49)

• Wichita State & College Hunger:
  Fred reflects on the differences NIL would have made for his era and his singular focus on making the NBA over enjoying the party side of college.

  “I hated college. I wanted to go to the league. My whole mindset every day was trying to get to the league.” (13:51)

• On Early NBA Aspirations:
  Even as a bench player, Fred’s hunger came from his self-belief and his daily approach to reaching the NBA.

2. The League's Changing Landscape: NIL & G League

• NIL Impact on Today’s Players:
  The hosts and Fred discuss how NIL deals shift player mindset and incentives, with Fred observing:

  “If you get a million your first year ... I’m not thinking about the NBA at all.” (12:39)

• G League vs. College & Transfer Portal:
  Fred weighs in on G League players jumping back to college for NIL money, and notes how today’s opportunities would have affected his own path.

  “If you’re young and just, shit, you jump early and it ain’t work out for you ... college, it’s a better G League.” (20:01)

• Recruitment Challenges for High Schoolers:
  The influx of older, transfer players is making it harder for incoming freshmen:

  “It’s harder for a high school kid to get recruited and come in and play. You got to be like stupid nice.” (22:53)

3. Skill Development, Shooting, and Modern NBA

• What Gets You in the League Today:

  “Shooting is the separator to me ... that’s what they paying for right now. Spacing and shooting.” (16:04)

• The Loss of Fundamentals:
  Fred laments the trend where young players often must learn basic skills in the NBA rather than earlier:

  “A lot of the kids that’s come to the NBA now, they don’t know how to play.” (14:56)

• On Developing a Superpower:
  If a scout can’t immediately spot your standout skill, “shit you cooked.” (15:49)

4. NBA Grind, Defense, and Guarding Legends

• Earning His Way in:

  “So now that was the way I got in. It was like, alright, you gotta play D. You gotta change the game and change the tempo.” (17:45)

• Guarding Steph Curry & Kyrie Irving:
  • On Steph: “You need the whole full team because he running off all the screens and you can’t fall asleep.” (68:17)
  • On Kyrie: “He the most challenging for me ... He might dribble it 27 times...he’s not passing it.” (68:10)
  • On the Finals box-and-one: “I’m playing the man in box and one ... he still had 50 in the Finals, like, he gave me 50 ... and we was trapping him every time.” (67:36)
• Most Difficult to Guard:
  Fred and hosts reminisce about the unique challenge of D. Rose: "He's one of my favorite, shout out to D legend." (69:09)

5. Making It in the NBA: Contracts, Roles, and Mindsets

• Securing a Place:
  Fred describes the stress of being undrafted and hustling for a secure contract:

  “All you can do is operate with the deal that’s on the table. ... Whatever the best deal on the table is, that’s where I’m going.” (31:53)

• "Regular Person" Before the NBA:
  Fred’s humility and financial mindfulness stem from his grind:

  “I was a regular person before I was in the NBA. ... I had to grind for that.” (33:32)

• Ref Reputation and Fines:
  On getting technicals: “If you’re gonna wild out, you gotta go all the way. Gonna get your money’s worth.” (06:13)

6. All-Star Selections, Snubs, and Fixing the Format

• Politics & Fatigue in All-Star Picks:

  “You gonna pick somebody that’s already been in there over somebody that’s never been in. ... You gotta have repeat years.” (35:08)

• East/West, World/America, & What Fans Want:
  Fred agrees that fans have more influence than they think on the structure of All-Star events:

  “The league is listening to what the fans want ... We gotta fix this shit.” (39:34)

• On All-Star Weekend Incentives:

  “Some shit gotta be for the love of the game. ... It should be a prize, some type of incentive. But at some point, come on, bro. This is what we love to do, too.” (44:27)

• Candid on His Own All-Star Experience:
  Sharing that he was actually injured during All-Star weekend but played through:

  “I hit my knee on the floor like a week or two before All-Star. But I ain't tell nobody because I ain't want to give a spot out...Cleveland, it was ass, it was cold ... but being in the locker room, NBA 75 that year, that’s something I’ll never forget.” (57:13)

7. Business of Basketball: Trades, Titles, and the Championship Parade

• The DeRozan-Kawhi Trade from a Player’s View:

  “My welcome to the business moment.” (60:06)
  On meeting Kawhi: “He still came and did what he was supposed to do.” (63:06)

• On Winning The Finals & The Iconic Shot:
  • Kawhi’s “four-bounce” game-winner:

    “I had a terrible series. Worst basketball of my life. I was just happy we was getting more game ... My whole rest of my career would've been different if we lose that Game 7. Cause I didn’t get hot till after that.” (64:09)

• Guarding Steph in the Finals:

  “To be chasing Steph around ... we playing box-and-one in the NBA Finals. ... It was just an incredible opportunity.” (67:17)

• Celebrating with a Country:
  Fred marvels at the Toronto parade:

  “The most craziest thing I ever done ... The parade, that whole summer.” (83:15)

8. Player Comparisons and Media Narratives

• Why Too Many Comps Are Harmful:

  “We doing both of them a disservice by comparing them ... You want your own name.” (72:48)

• Joker vs. Sengun, KD vs. SGA:
  Ranks Joker atop the bigs, sees a big gap between #1 and the field.

  “Joker is ... an all-time great already.” (74:15)

• Advice on Player Identity:

  “I tell [Sengun] to his face ... stop doing that. Because first of all, you want your own name.” (73:13)

9. On Being a Leader, Potential Coach, and Giving Back

• Coaching Aspirations?
  Fred likes teaching, not formal coaching:

  “I like to teach more than I like to coach. ... I don’t want to coach.” (79:23)

• Being a ‘Coach’ On the Floor:

  “I’m helping them with the in-between, between the players ... but I would definitely be around the game in some capacity.” (80:03)

10. On the Next Generation and Talent Pipeline

• High Praise for Incoming Classes:
  Fred and the crew are excited for the new wave of rookies, like Cooper Flagg, Queen, and others:

  “At least six, seven, eight of them ... really guys that’s contributing on winning teams.” (88:06)

• College Star Comparisons:
  Lively debate around comps for the Boozer twins, with jokes about Tyler Hansbrough comparisons.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you can’t shoot by the time you 18, you probably cooked.” — Fred VanVleet (15:15)
• “Some shit gotta be for the love of the game, too.” — Fred VanVleet on All-Star incentives (44:27)
• “You only can operate with the deal that’s on the table... Whatever the best deal on the table is, that’s where I’m going with.” — Fred VanVleet on contracts (31:53)
• “Guarding Steph... I’m playing the man in box and one ... he still had 50 in the Finals.” — Fred VanVleet (67:36)
• “He still came and did what he was supposed to do.” — Fred VanVleet on Kawhi Leonard (63:06)
• “My whole rest of my career would've been different if we lose that Game 7. Cause I didn’t get hot till after that.” — Fred VanVleet on the impact of Kawhi’s shot (64:17)
• “Joker is like an all-time great already.” — Fred VanVleet (74:15)
• “We doing both of them a disservice by comparing them…You want your own name.” — Fred VanVleet on Sengun being called “baby Joker” (72:48)
• “I like to teach more than I like to coach.” — Fred VanVleet on life after playing (79:23)
• “The most craziest thing I ever done ... The parade, that whole summer.” — Fred VanVleet on Toronto’s championship parade (83:15)

Important Timestamps

• Fred’s AAU/High School/College Path: 09:49–13:51
• NIL Changes in College Basketball: 11:16–13:11
• NBA Entry, G League, Securing a Spot: 17:45–19:10, 31:53
• Skill Development, Shooting in Youth Hoops: 15:09–16:37
• Ref Reputation, Technicals, and Fines: 05:45–07:59
• All-Star Voting & Format Opinions: 34:44–40:31
• Guarding Steph Curry and Kyrie: 67:36–68:29
• KD vs. SGA vs. Joker: 65:04–74:15
• Winning the Finals & Championship Parade: 64:09–83:15
• Coaching & Leadership Post-Playing: 79:20–81:08
• Rookie Class, Comparisons, and Next Wave: 87:05–95:05

Episode Tone & Style

The conversation is unfiltered, funny, real, and deeply rooted in player perspectives. Fred’s humility, grind, and competitiveness shine through, with the hosts’ humor and vibe making it feel like a candid barbershop chat rather than a formal interview. The All-Star, championship, and player comparison debates are passionate and opinionated but never forced.

For Listeners Who Haven't Tuned In

This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking for:

• Firsthand NBA Finals insight from a champion and underdog.
• A player’s honest take on the changing college-to-pro pipeline.
• Unvarnished stories about locker rooms, contracts, and All-Star politics.
• A masterclass in basketball IQ, defense, and evolving the game.
• Laugh-out-loud moments about “Cocaine Curry,” All-Star Weekend antics, and Fred’s journey from Rockford to champion.
• Hopeful perspectives on the next wave of NBA talent.

Fred VanVleet’s story is proof that doing it the “hard way” still works—especially if you’re willing to outwork, out-learn, and outlast everyone, all with a humble and genuine approach to the game and life.