Rockets’ Fred VanVleet Tears ACL, Expected to Miss 2025–26 Season

Fred VanVleet #5 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors during Round 1 Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2025 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

By Avery Torff | Sept 23, 2025 | 7:09 PM |

Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet has suffered a torn ACL and could be sidelined for the entire 2025-26 season, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.

He suffered the injury during a recent offseason workout.

Back in June, VanVleet agreed to a two-year, $50 million extension with Houston, which includes a player option for 2026–27.

After joining the Rockets on three-year deal in the summer of 2023, they jumped from 22 wins to 41 in his first season. Houston built on that success, with 52 wins last season, earning the No. 2 seed and ending a four-year playoff drought.

While VanVleet averaged just 14.1 points in 2024-25, his lowest since 2018-19, he bounced back with 18.7 points per game in the playoffs.

Last season, he attempted 7.7 threes per game, second on the Rockets, yet his struggles with efficiency showed as he finished below 40% from the field for the fourth time in his career.

Over his career, VanVleet has averaged 14.9 points and 5.7 assists per game.