"VanVleet is undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee, and expected to miss the entire 2025-26 campaign, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. This news is a devastating blow for the Rockets, who were being ranked among the league's foremost contenders after beating out Miami and other teams in the KD sweepstakes."
"Houston is deep and talented enough to remain more than respectable without FVV. But the Western Conference is a bear, and the offense's fate will now be more prominently tied to the performance of sophomore Reed Sheppard, and reserve Aaron Holiday than it's supposed to be. This says nothing of the defensive hurdles the Rockets must clear. VanVleet spent more time guarding primary ball-handlers last season than any other regular rotation player on the roster, according to BBall Index."
"Moral of the story: There is officially more variance baked into the Rockets' 2025-26 season. That is an uncomfortable spot in which to be when Durant has yet to sign an extension, and wants to spend his remaining days contending for titles. It's not like this is a one-season issue, either. VanVleet will be 32 in 2026-27, and attempting to come back from a major injury. That may be part of KD's calculus when assessing Houston's immediate future."
Fred VanVleet will undergo surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee and is expected to miss the entire 2025-26 season. The injury significantly undermines the Houston Rockets' contender status after signing Kevin Durant and complicates Durant's evaluation of the team's immediate title prospects. Houston retains depth but will lean more on sophomore Reed Sheppard and reserve Aaron Holiday offensively. Defensively, VanVleet's absence removes the primary on-ball defender, increasing pressure on Amen Thompson and raising the likelihood of increased minutes for Josh Okogie. VanVleet's age and recovery timeline for 2026-27 further add uncertainty to Houston's near-term outlook and Durant's future plans.
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