Rockford native Fred VanVleet built his entire career on defying the odds. When you think of “bet on yourself,” most of us in the 815 think of VanVleet, and it makes sense.

Fred VanVleet’s Road from Rockford to the NBA

VanVleet was undrafted out of Wichita State, an NBA champ with the Toronto Raptors, and now has a $50 million deal with the Houston Rockets. Ten years into what some thought would be an improbable NBA career, he’s now getting ready to face one of his toughest battles.

READ MORE: Rockford’s Fred VanVleet: From Undrafted to NBA Champion

Reports Confirm ACL Tear in Rockets Camp

That’s because there have been multiple reports stating that VanVleet has torn his ACL during a Rockets minicamp in the Bahamas. While he’s scheduled for surgery this week, the injury could very well sideline him for the entire season. For the Rockets, that’s a significant blow, losing their starting point guard before the season tips, and for Rockford, it’s tough to see one of our own hit with such brutal timing.

READ MORE: Illinois Athletes Who Battled Back from Major Injuries

How Long is an ACL Recovery in the NBA?

The return from an ACL injury, surgery, and rehab can be long and winding with plenty of ups and downs, but if there’s one thing we know for sure about VanVleet, it’s that he’s never backed down from a challenge, and this injury won’t change any of that. Here’s hoping one of Rockford’s very best makes one more comeback.

10 Cities That Need An NBA Team

There have been rumors swirling for years that the NBA is looking to expand. The last time the league expanded, is when it added the Charlotte Bobcats back in 2004.

Now, as we often do every offseason, we’re wondering where the NBA would add a team if it were to expand? Would it be a brand new market? Add an additional team to a large market? Or bring a team back to an old market?

Let’s look at the most likely possibilities, and cities that deserve an NBA team!

Gallery Credit: Cort Freeman

The Best College Basketball Towns in America: Top 10WalletHub ranked 296 cities based on how awesome (or terrible) they are for college basketball fans. They looked at things like team performance, championship wins, ticket prices, fan engagement, and stadium size. Big cities, midsize towns, and small spots were all compared. The result? A definitive (and possibly debatable) Top 10 ranking! See the link in the #1 College Basketball Town in America for the full methodology. Let’s begin the countdown:

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow