Information indicates that Fred VanVleet, a key player for the Houston Rockets, has experienced an ACL tear. This injury casts considerable uncertainty on his participation in the 2025-26 season, as reported by Shams Charania of ESPN on Monday. Following the Rockets’ decision not to exercise VanVleet’s $44.9 million team option for the current season, the team secured his continued presence in Houston by agreeing to a two-year contract worth $50 million. This agreement includes a player option for the 2026-27 season.
Last season, VanVleet’s contributions as Houston’s starting point guard included averages of 14.9 points, 5.7 assists, and 3.4 rebounds. He joined Houston in the 2023 offseason, signing a three-year contract valued at $128 million with the team, after a significant tenure with the Toronto Raptors.
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During his inaugural season with the team in 2023-24, the NBA All-Star was instrumental in the Rockets’ achievement of securing 41 victories. Following a season where they achieved a 52-30 record, the Rockets made their return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Their playoff journey ended in the first round, where they were defeated by the Golden State Warriors in a series that extended to seven games.
Besides bringing back VanVleet, Houston was active throughout the offseason. The Rockets brought in seasoned forward Kevin Durant through a trade and welcomed Dorian Finney-Smith, Clint Capela, and Steven Adams as free-agent acquisitions. According to FanDuel, the Rockets are ranked fifth in likelihood (14-1) to secure the 2026 title, trailing the Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, and the New York Knicks.
