According to renowned insider Shams, sources reveal that Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet has suffered a torn ACL and is likely to miss the entire 2025–26 season.
For the Rockets, this is nothing short of a devastating blow. As the team’s starting guard, VanVleet not only brings invaluable experience on the court but also serves as a mentor and one of the leaders in the locker room.
Sources indicate that the injury occurred during a mini training camp in the Bahamas. A former All-Star, VanVleet won an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019. Over the past two seasons in Houston, “Van Jordan” has had a clear impact on the franchise.
Before his arrival, the Rockets won just 22 games in the regular season. In his first year with Houston, that number jumped to 41. Last season, the Rockets improved further, finishing with 52 wins and securing the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.
This past June, the Rockets declined to exercise VanVleet’s $44.9 million team option for the final year of his previous deal. Instead, both sides agreed on a new two-year, $50 million contract, with a player option for the 2026–27 season.
VanVleet is scheduled to undergo surgery this week. In his absence, Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson are expected to see increased minutes at the point guard position. Meanwhile, Houston made a major offseason splash by acquiring Kevin Durant in their push for a championship, which makes VanVleet’s injury all the more impactful.
Now 31, VanVleet appeared in 60 games for the Rockets in the 2024–25 season, averaging 14.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.6 steals in 35.2 minutes per game.
