Houston Rockets’ star point guard Fred VanVleet has suffered a severe setback with a torn ACL, raising significant concerns about his availability for the 2025-26 NBA season. This unfortunate news was reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania. The injury comes after a busy offseason for the Rockets, who had recently declined VanVleet’s $44.9 million team option, only to re-sign him with a lucrative two-year, $50 million contract, which includes a player option for the 2026-27 season.
VanVleet made a significant impact in his inaugural season with the Rockets, posting averages of 14.9 points, 5.7 assists, and 3.4 rebounds. Having joined the team from the Toronto Raptors during the 2023 offseason on a three-year, $128 million deal, VanVleet quickly became an integral part of the Rockets’ lineup. His efforts helped guide Houston to 41 victories in his first season, leading them back to the playoffs with an impressive 52-30 record. Unfortunately, their postseason bid ended in a hard-fought seven-game first-round defeat to the Golden State Warriors.
Beyond VanVleet, the Rockets have been proactive in strengthening their roster. They made a splash by trading for superstar forward Kevin Durant and also bolstered their ranks through free agency by acquiring Dorian Finney-Smith, Clint Capela, and Steven Adams. With these strategic moves, the Rockets are considered strong contenders, possessing the fifth-best odds to clinch the 2026 NBA title, trailing only behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, and New York Knicks according to FanDuel.
Fred VanVleet’s injury presents a significant challenge for the Rockets as they aim to build upon their recent successes and achieve their championship aspirations. The collective talents of their newly assembled roster still offer hope, but VanVleet’s absence will undoubtedly be felt both on and off the court. His exceptional playmaking and leadership have been instrumental to Houston’s resurgence. However, the Rockets’ aggressive offseason acquiring top-tier talent sets a promising stage for overcoming this setback and potentially pursuing a deep playoff run in the upcoming seasons.