All The Smoke Fred VanVleet on KD’s Shower Confession, His $50K Ejection & NBA Leadership Crisis
Jan 13, 2026
Fred VanVleet, an undrafted point guard turned NBA champion, discusses a range of compelling topics. He opens up about his ACL rehab journey and mental battles, noting how creating his podcast, Unguarded, has been therapeutic. Fred shares insights on Kevin Durant's leadership and the pressing need for veteran presence in today's NBA. He reflects on his infamous $50K ejection, revealing the personal grief behind it. The conversation also touches on young players' growth and Fred's assessments of team dynamics in the league.
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Reframing Injury As A Strategic Pause
- Fred VanVleet treats his ACL injury as a pause to rebuild and focus on fundamentals during rehab.
- He emphasizes the mental challenge more than the physical and views it as a new obstacle to overcome.
Use Content As Rehab And Scale It Back
- Use content creation as therapeutic work during downtime and to practice using your voice publicly.
- Start small and scale back during the season to avoid burning out while playing.
Perception Versus Presence With Kevin Durant
- Kevin Durant's on-court dominance masks a different public narrative; proximity shows his relaxed, unbothered personality.
- Fred credits KD's energy and leadership as vital for a young team despite online criticism.