Fred VanVleet contract details: Rockets guard joins list of NBA's highest-paid point guards

Scott Rafferty

Fred VanVleet contract details: Rockets guard joins list of NBA's highest-paid point guards image

Fred VanVleet is being paid the big bucks to move to the Western Conference.

After seven seasons in Toronto, VanVleet is reportedly leaving the Raptors for the Rockets in free agency. 

The Sporting News' Stephen Noh had VanVleet ranked as the fifth-best player in this free agent class, trailing only James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Khris Middleton and Draymond Green. VanVleet had a down year shooting the ball by his standards, but he still averaged 19.3 points, 7.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game in 2022-23.

The Rockets are reportedly hoping that VanVleet can help change the team's culture as a "leader and example-setter."

VanVleet has been one of the NBA's best development stories in recent memory. In addition to playing a key role in Toronto's first-ever championship, he's one of only a few players to become an All-Star after going undrafted.

How much will VanVleet be paid? The Sporting News breaks down his deal.

Fred VanVleet contract details

VanVleet has signed a three-year, $130 million contract with the Rockets, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The contract has an average annual value of $43.3 million. 

Season Estimated salary
2023-24 $40.8 million
2024-25 $42.8 million
2025-26 $44.9 million
2026-27 UFA

Fred VanVleet career earnings

According to Spotrac, VanVleet has made a total of $81.4 million so far in his NBA career. That does not include his reported contract with the Rockets, which will increase his career earnings to over $200 million.

Fred VanVleet stats

Through seven seasons of his career, VanVleet is averaging 14.6 points and 5.3 assists per game.

VanVleet has started in 268 of his 417 regular season games. He helped the Raptors win a championship in 2019 and was named an All-Star in the 2021-22 season.

Here are VanVleet's stats by season:

Season PPG APG RPG FG% 3PT% FT%
2016-17 2.9 0.9 1.1 .351 .379 .818
2017-18 8.6 3.2 2.4 .426 .414 .832
2018-19 11.0 4.8 2.6 .410 .378 .843
2019-20 17.6 6.6 3.8 .413 .390 .848
2020-21 19.6 6.3 4.2 .389 .366 .885
2021-22 20.3 6.7 4.4 .403 .377 .874
2022-23 19.3 7.2 4.1 .393 .342 .898

NBA's highest-paid point guards

VanVleet's deal sets him up to be one of the highest-paid point guards in the NBA next season.

According to Spotrac, there are only 12 other players at VanVleet's position projected to earn more than $30 million in 2023-24, including Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic and Ja Morant.

Rank Player Salary
1. Stephen Curry $51,915,615
2. Damian Lillard $45,640,084
3. Luka Doncic $40,064,220
  Trae Young $40,064,220
5. Ben Simmons $37,893,408
6. Jrue Holiday $36,861,707
7. Darius Garland $34,000,000
  Ja Morant $34,000,000
9. Jamal Murray $33,833,400
10. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander $33,386,850
11. De'Aaron Fox $32,600,060
12. Chris Paul $30,800,000
13. Kyle Lowry $29,682,540
14. Jalen Brunson $26,346,666
15. Mike Conley $24,360,000

VanVleet declined a $22.8 million player option in his contract for the 2023-24 season to become an unrestricted free agent.

Scott Rafferty

Scott Rafferty Photo

 

Scott Rafferty is an experienced NBA journalist who first started writing for The Sporting News in 2017. There are few things he appreciates more than a Nikola Jokic no-look pass, Klay Thompson heat check or Giannis Antetokounmpo eurostep. He's a member of the NBA Global team.