Houston Rockets point guard Fred VanVleet has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 NBA season, sources told ESPN on Monday.
The 31-year-old guard, a one-time All-Star and member of the Toronto Raptors’ 2019 championship team, signed a two-year, $50 million extension with Houston in June that includes a player option for 2026-27.
VanVleet joined the Rockets in 2023 on a three-year deal and immediately helped steer the club’s turnaround. Houston jumped from 22 victories to 41 in his first season, then posted 52 wins last year to secure the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, ending a four-year playoff absence.
During the 2024-25 regular season, VanVleet averaged 14.1 points—the lowest since 2018-19—but boosted that number to 18.7 points per game in the postseason. Known for his tough perimeter defense and high-volume three-point shooting, he attempted 7.7 threes per game last season, second-most on the team, while shooting below 40% from the field for the fourth time in his career.
Over nine NBA seasons, the Wichita State product has averaged 14.9 points and 5.7 assists.
Source: ESPN
