Fred VanVleet tears ACL during workout, Rockets face season-long absence

Houston Rockets constituent defender Fred VanVleet tore the ACL successful his genu during a caller offseason workout and could miss the full 2025–26 season, according to ESPN. The 31-year-old, a one-time All-Star and 2019 NBA champion with Toronto, signed a two-year, $50 cardinal hold successful June that includes a subordinate enactment for 2026–27. His lack hits a squad that climbed from 22 wins successful 2023–24 to 41, past 52 past play to assertion the No. 2 effect successful the West and extremity a four-year playoff drought.

How Houston adjusts astatine guard

Attention present shifts to Reed Sheppard and Aaron Holiday, with Amen Thompson’s two-way crippled taking connected much responsibility. Barring a trade, roster options are tight. The Rockets are $1.25 cardinal beneath the archetypal apron, limiting flexibility to usage modular mechanisms to capable their 1 unfastened spot, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks. That fiscal compression raises the stakes for interior maturation and astute minutes management.

VanVleet’s impact, by the numbers

VanVleet averaged 14.1 points successful 2024–25 — his lowest since 2018–19 — yet helium lifted his accumulation to 18.7 points per crippled successful the playoffs. He remains a tone-setter: a rugged defender, dependable playmaker and high-volume perimeter shooter. He was 2nd connected the squad successful three-point attempts past play astatine 7.7 per game. Efficiency continues to beryllium the trade-off; helium changeable nether 40% from the tract for the 4th clip successful his career. Across 9 seasons, helium has averaged 14.9 points and 5.7 assists.

Houston built momentum astir spacing, defense, and depth. Losing its pb defender for astir oregon each of the twelvemonth complicates that plan. However, the radical astir him has matured, and the franchise has leaned into versatility. If Sheppard settles rapidly and Thompson’s playmaking expands, the Rockets tin support the playoff way successful presumption portion they await VanVleet’s return.

Houston besides had a engaged offseason successful summation to bringing backmost VanVleet. The Rockets traded for prima forward Kevin Durant and signed Dorian Finney-Smith, Clint Capela and Steven Adams in escaped agency. The Rockets person the fifth-best likelihood (14-1) to triumph the 2026 title.