Rockets Face Major Setback with VanVleet's Injury
The Houston Rockets have been dealt a significant blow as their starting point guard, Fred VanVleet, suffered a torn ACL during a team camp in the Bahamas. This devastating injury, reported on September 22, could sideline VanVleet for the entirety of the 2025-26 NBA season, posing a major challenge to the team's championship aspirations.
VanVleet, who recently signed a two-year, $50 million deal to remain with Houston, has been a key leader and playmaker for the Rockets. His absence leaves a gaping hole in the lineup, particularly in terms of passing, ball-handling, and overall court vision, areas where the team already faced challenges.
Kevin Durant's Role Evolves Amid Crisis
In the wake of VanVleet's injury, the Rockets are turning to their newly acquired star, Kevin Durant, to shoulder additional responsibilities. Houston head coach Ime Udoka has indicated that Durant, a 15-time All-Star forward, will take on some of the playmaking load to compensate for the loss at point guard.
The Rockets made a bold move in the offseason by trading for Durant, signaling their intent to transition from a promising young team to a serious title contender. However, with VanVleet out, Durant's role becomes even more critical, as the team must rely on his elite scoring and ability to create opportunities for others to maintain offensive rhythm.
Posts found on X reflect a mix of concern and speculation about Durant's workload, with some questioning whether he can sustain heavy minutes at this stage of his career. The consensus among analysts is that while Durant remains a focal point, the Rockets will need to adopt a by-committee approach to fill the void left by VanVleet.
Emerging Players Step Up to Fill the Gap
With VanVleet sidelined, the Rockets are looking to younger players like Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard to step into larger roles. NBA analyst Zach Lowe has noted that Houston plans to give significant ball-handling responsibilities to Thompson and Sheppard, viewing this as an opportunity for their development.
Additionally, players like Aaron Holiday may see increased minutes as the team experiments with new lineups. Tim Bontemps, speaking on The Hoop Collective Podcast, emphasized that this injury could force Houston to do what's best long-term by unleashing Thompson's potential, a sentiment echoed across social media discussions on X.
The Rockets face further challenges with other injuries, such as Dorian Finney-Smith's uncertain status at the start of the season. Veterans like Jeff Green might also be called upon for stabilizing contributions both on and off the court. As Houston navigates this crisis, the focus remains on adapting quickly to maintain their competitive edge in a tough Western Conference.