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11m ago

Rockets’ Fred VanVleet Tears ACL at Minicamp, Likely Out for 2025–26

Houston confronts hard‑cap limits that push ball‑handling duties to young guards.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 26: Fred VanVleet #5 of the Houston Rockets shoots the ball against the Golden State Warriors in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Chase Center on April 26, 2025 in San Francisco, California.
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Overview

  • Multiple outlets report the 31-year-old tore his ACL during a team minicamp in the Bahamas and has returned to Houston for surgery this week.
  • The injury, first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, is widely described as likely season-ending.
  • Hard-cap constraints leave Houston about $1.25 million below the first apron, limiting immediate options to trades rather than signing a veteran point guard.
  • Coach Ime Udoka is expected to shift playmaking to Amen Thompson and second-year guard Reed Sheppard, with veteran Aaron Holiday taking on rotation minutes.
  • VanVleet re-signed in June on a two-year, $50 million deal with a 2026–27 player option after helping Houston win 52 games last season and averaging 18.7 points in the playoffs.