Led by big man Alperen Şengün, guard Jalen Green, second-year forward Amen Thompson, and veteran point guard Fred VanVleet, the Houston Rockets were one of the best stories in the league last season, posting a record of 52-30, good for second-best in the Western Conference.

Although the Rockets were defeated in seven games by Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs, it was clearly an extremely successful season for the Rockets.

Once the offseason officially began, the Rockets, armed with assets, decided to move all in on the 2025-26 season. As part of what wound up being a seven-team deal with 19 players involved, the Rockets shipped out Green, veteran Dillon Brooks, Clint Capela, David Roddy, Daeqwon Plowden, the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Khaman Maluach, and 12 second-round picks to acquire future Hall-of-Fame Kevin Durant, who was with the Phoenix Suns. The deal also included the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns.

Adding Durant, one of the game’s all-time great scorers, to a team full of young talent with a veteran point guard like Fred VanVleet looked like it could instantly make the Rockets legitimate contenders. But unfortunately, they received devastating news.

What Happened to Rockets’ Fred VanVleet?

On Monday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that VanVleet suffered a torn ACL that may cost him the entire 2025-2026 season.

Just in: Houston Rockets’ Fred VanVleet has suffered a torn ACL, sources tell ESPN. A devastating, potentially season-ending loss for the Rockets with their starting point guard and leader. pic.twitter.com/Qhf0V58DwR

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 22, 2025

According to Charania, VanVleet suffered the injury during a recent offseason workout.

“An immediate fit after signing a three-year deal with the team in the summer of 2023, VanVleet helped Houston improve from 22 wins to 41 in his first year,” Charania explained. “The Rockets then won 52 games last season to grab the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, ending a four-year postseason drought.”

VanVleet, a one-time All-Star, averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game for the Rockets last season.

Obviously, this is terrible news for the Rockets, who looked to be a real contender to potentially challenge the Thunder in the west.

Who Could Replace VanVleet?

Reed Sheppard, the third overall pick in the 2024 draft, will have to elevate his game as the Rockets search for a replacement to run point. The former Kentucky Wildcat played in just 52 games last season, averaging 4.4 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 12.6 minutes per game while shooting only 35.1% from the field.

Using Thompson, who was fantastic as a rookie last season, and veteran Aaron Holiday are other options currently on the Rockets roster. Holiday appeared in 62 games, going for 5.5 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 12.8 minutes per game while shooting 43.7% from the field, including 39.8% from three. Thompson, the fourth-overall pick of the 2023 draft and an excellent defensive presence (named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team last season), went for 14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, shooting 55.7% from the field. Still, they’d much rather use him in a similar role to the one where he blossomed last season.

Of course, the Rockets could look to the trade market to find a replacement but that but with all of the money they are paying out now (including extending forward Jabari Smith, Jr. this offseason) and having used several assets to pull off the Durant deal, that will be easier said than done.