According to media reports, Houston Rockets point guard Fred VanVleet unfortunately suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during an offseason training and is very likely to miss the entire 2025-26 season.

The 31-year-old VanVleet joined the Houston Rockets in the summer of 2023. In his first season, he led the team from 22 wins to 41 wins, helping the team escape the lottery zone. Last season, the Houston Rockets won 52 games, ranked second in the Western Conference, and ended a four-year playoff drought.

As the championship point guard who won the championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, VanVleet is regarded as a key piece to the Houston Rockets' revival. In June of this year, VanVleet just renewed his two-year, $50 million contract with the Houston Rockets, which includes a player option for the 2026-27 season.

Last season, VanVleet averaged 14.1 points per game in the regular season, which was the lowest since the 2018-19 season, but he still contributed a stable output of 18.7 points per game in the playoffs. With VanVleet's injury, the Houston Rockets' point guard position will face a severe test.

Currently, the point guard burden of the Houston Rockets will be shared by rookie Reed Sheppard, guard Aaron Holiday and young offensive and defensive stalwart Amen Thompson.

As a tough defensive point guard known for his playmaking and three-point shooting, VanVleet plays a significant role in the Houston Rockets' offense. Last season, he averaged 7.7 three-point attempts per game, second on the team, but efficiency issues persisted, with his field goal percentage falling below 40% again.

VanVleet has played in the NBA for nine years, averaging 14.9 points and 5.7 assists per game. The Houston Rockets' Western Conference competitiveness is bound to be severely impacted by the sudden loss of this experienced point guard.