Rockets’ guard Fred VanVleet suffers torn ACL

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Veteran point guard Fred VanVleet might miss the entire NBA season after multiple reports confirmed that he tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee on Sept. 23, 2025.

The devastating off-season development was first announced by ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania, who added that the injury occurred during a workout in the Bahamas.

VanVleet was an important piece in Houston’s NBA Playoff run last season, helping the young Rockets team drag the Golden State Warriors to seven grueling games.

A former NBA champion when he was still with the Toronto Raptors, VanVleet was expected to run the show for the retooled Rockets together with newly acquired All-Star Kevin Durant and rising big man Alperen Sengun, who came off a promising FIBA EuroBasket campaign.

However, the heartbreaking news will cause a huge role overhaul in the Houston franchise, especially in the point guard rotation with VanVleet acting as the main ball handler.

As of now, the Rockets only have Reed Sheppard and Aaron Holiday who can step up in place of VanVleet, with the rest of the team’s composition already filled with numerous forwards and centers.

VanVleet played 60 regular-season games for the Rockets and averaged 14.1 points and 5.6 assists, but it was in the playoffs where the seasoned floor general balled out, tallying 18.7 points, 4.4 dimes, and 4.1 rebounds against the Warriors.

According to Yahoo National NBA reporter and The Athletic insider Kelly Iko, VanVleet is set for knee surgery this week.

VanVleet is fresh off receiving a lucrative deal from the Rockets after a promising season and re-signed a two-year, USD 50 million extension contract.

With VanVleet’s season in jeopardy, Houston head coach Ime Udoka must rely on Durant, Sengun, Jabari Smith, Steven Adams, Clint Capela, and the athletic Amen Thompson to lead the Rockets’ NBA campaign.