Even after the arrival of Kevin Durant, Fred VanVleet can be expected to play a major role in whatever success the Houston Rockets get next season. He averaged 14.1 points and 5.6 assists in 2024-25, leading his team both in assists and steals. VanVleet averaged 18.7 points per game during the playoffs, since signing a $50 million, 2-year deal that will keep him at Houston until the end of the 2026-27 campaign..

Regardless, with most Rockets fans dreaming of what they can do next season, major update may have thrown a huge spanner in the works. Shams Charania took to X to reveal that the Rockets’ big man has suffered a torn ACL, potentially bringing an end to his season before it even begins. “Just in: Houston Rockets’ Fred VanVleet has suffered a torn ACL, sources tell ESPN. A devastating, potentially season-ending loss for the Rockets with their starting point guard and leader,” he wrote.

A torn ACL typically requires a recovery timeline of nine to twelve months for NBA players. Research from a Stanford University study on ACL injuries in the league found that the average return to play is about 9-12 months after surgery. However, the rehabilitation period obviously depends player-to-player.

The injury occurred during an unofficial team minicamp in the Bahamas, and VanVleet is scheduled to undergo surgery this week. The timing is devastating for both the player and the team, as the 31-year-old had just re-signed with Houston on a two-year, $50 million contract this summer. With a $25 million player option for 2026/27, he is now expected to miss the entire 2025/26 season and will likely exercise that option.

VanVleet has been instrumental in Houston’s rise from the bottom of the Western Conference, helping the Rockets improve from three straight 20-win seasons to a .500 record in 2023/24 and a 52-30 campaign last year. While his regular season production dipped slightly, he remained a steady presence, averaging 14.1 points, 5.6 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.6 steals, and the Rockets consistently performed better with him on the floor. In the playoffs, he elevated his game, averaging 18.7 points per contest and shooting 43.5% from beyond the arc in a seven-game series against Golden State.

Houston may apply for a disabled player exception following the injury, but their financial flexibility is extremely limited, with the team just $1.25 million below the first apron. In the meantime, younger guards such as Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, and Aaron Holiday are expected to shoulder more of the ball-handling duties in VanVleet’s absence.

Derrick Rose famously tore his ACL in the 2012 playoffs and was out for over a year, while Zach LaVine needed nearly 11 months of recovery after his 2017 tear before returning to form. More recently, Jamal Murray missed the entire 2021–22 season after tearing his ACL in April 2021, returning strong to help Denver win the 2023 title. Similarly, the likes of Tyrese Haliburton and Kyrie Irving are also expected to miss close to 12 months before making a return.

Fred VanVleet’s absence creates a massive hole in the Rockets’ lineup. He was the primary ball handler and playmaker, essential for setting up teammates like Alperen Şengün and Kevin Durant. His leadership as a former NBA champion was invaluable for a young team learning how to win. While his regular season scoring averaged 14.1 points per game last year, his impact was proven in the playoffs where he elevated his play to 18.7 points per game. His loss forces the team to completely rethink its backcourt strategy as the new season approaches.

Rockets’ backcourt shake up: who steps up?

Reed Sheppard is the most obvious internal choice to absorb primary starting duties once camp begins because he was the third pick in the 2024 draft and flashed shooting and court instincts as a rookie. In limited minutes last season Sheppard shot efficiently and showed catch and shoot range; the Rockets had planned to expand his playmaking and the club’s coaching staff has praised his decision making as a core building block for the offense this year.

The Kentucky product averaged just 4.4 points in limited minutes as a rookie but is now set for a dramatic increase in responsibility. His shooting percentages, 35.1 percent from the field and 33.8 from three, suggest a learning curve remains. Projected plans call for increasing his usage and asking him to orchestrate set actions around the new roster pieces.

Amen Thompson gives Houston a very different but complementary option because his length and explosive first step create transition scoring and switching defense that can mask a backcourt shortfall. The 6-foot-7 guard-forward hybrid was drafted for his potential to operate as a secondary playmaker, and this season accelerates that timeline. His size and athleticism give the Rockets defensive versatility.

Thompson played only small minutes last season but scouts and staff note his defensive versatility and ability to push the break, qualities the Rockets can emphasize to generate easy offense while the half court playmaking is distributed elsewhere. Expect Udoka to run more early offense to leverage Thompson’s strengths.

Aaron Holiday supplies the veteran steadiness the Rockets will need in late game situations and in high leverage possessions because he has eight seasons of NBA experience and a track record of running pick and roll sets under pressure. His numbers last season show reliable bench production and a high frequency of closing possession assignments, which makes him the logical go to option for crunch time while younger guards grow into larger roles. Holiday’s presence also reduces turnover risk when the game tightens.

Analytically the data from last season underlines why Fred VanVleet’s absence matters now: Houston’s offensive rating and net rating dipped noticeably in the games he missed previously, with the team showing higher opponent paint aggression without his on ball disruption. To mitigate that effect the Rockets plan to increase Sheppard’s usage to create spacing, lean on Thompson for early transition buckets, and insert Holiday in late game lineups to preserve structure. The combination is multi faceted but represents Houston’s best path to remaining competitive while VanVleet rehabs.