Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet is anticipated to miss the entire 2025–26 season due to a torn ACL he suffered during a recent offseason training session, as reported by ESPN on Monday.

At 31 years old, VanVleet was expected to serve as the starting point guard for a Rockets team looking to compete for a playoff spot, particularly after acquiring star player Kevin Durant through trade in June. The team had shown confidence in the veteran by signing him to a two-year, $50 million extension earlier that month, which includes a player option for the 2026–27 season.

The absence of former All-Star and 2019 NBA champion VanVleet raises concerns about the Rockets’ depth at point guard, with options including Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, and veteran Aaron Holiday, all currently under contract.

Given the financial commitment to VanVleet, Durant, and other key players, the Rockets face challenges in bolstering their roster further in this position. According to the Houston Chronicle, the Rockets are currently $1.25M below the first apron hard cap and cannot add another point guard without making a trade. Compounding the issue, Houston recently signed seven free agents who cannot be traded until December 15, per league regulations.

VanVleet started 60 games during the 2024-25 season, averaging 14.1 points, his lowest since the 2018–19 season, along with 5.6 assists and 3.7 rebounds. He raised his scoring average to 18.7 in the first-round playoff series against the Warriors that went seven games.