VanVleet reveals COVID-19 struggles: 'I wouldn't wish it on anybody'

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet revealed Tuesday he contracted COVID-19. After struggling with the virus, he says "I wouldn't wish it on anybody."

"I could feel the sickness, I could just feel it in me," VanVleet said, according to the Toronto Star's Doug Smith. "I could feel it in my bones, in my muscles, in my blood. It just was something that was taking over my body for a short period of time."

VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, Patrick McCaw, and Malachi Flynn have all been out since late February due to the league's health and safety protocols. The Rockford, Illinois, native is the only one of the group to publicly address his diagnosis.

"I know there are a lot of people that didn't make it through COVID," VanVleet said. "My thoughts and heart are with the families and people that have been affected by this thing that weren't as fortunate as I was, as I am."

The 27-year-old added: "I'm here, I'm alive, I'm breathing."

VanVleet, Siakam, McCaw, and Flynn were cleared to return to practice Tuesday. Although VanVleet still has to pass some heart and COVID-19 tests before he can play Wednesday against the Detroit Pistons, he welcomes the return to normalcy.

"I caught myself walking into the gym just smiling, smiling, like I forgot how much I love this (stuff)," VanVleet said.

He added: "I'm just happy to be back with the team right now."