Fred VanVleet has not appeared in a game for the Houston Rockets this season after suffering a serious knee injury during the offseason. The veteran guard tore the ACL in his right knee during a private workout in the Bahamas in late September 2025.
He underwent surgery shortly after the injury, with an initial recovery timeline of nine to 12 months. As a result, VanVleet was expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 NBA season.
When Can Fred VanValeet Return to the Rockets’ Lineup?
The 31-year-old All-Star has yet to make his season debut, and the Rockets have listed him as out in every injury report so far. ESPN’s latest Houston injury report continues to label VanVleet as unavailable, with no firm return date announced by the team.
Despite that, a late-season comeback has not been completely ruled out.
On Jan. 5, NBA insider Marc Stein reported that VanVleet was pushing hard in his rehabilitation and had not shut the door on a possible return before the season ends.
“Word is VanVleet is working as hard as possible in his rehab from the injury to at least put a late-season return on the table,” Stein wrote.
That cautious optimism was echoed later in the month by ESPN reporter Tim MacMahon. Speaking on his Howdy Partners podcast, MacMahon shared details from a recent conversation with VanVleet when the Rockets visited the Dallas Mavericks.
“He told me it was definitely a goal of his, to come back in time for the playoffs,” MacMahon said. “His surgeon has told him it’s a possibility. That is what he is training for, that’s what he’s shooting for. It is a goal, it is not a guarantee. He said, ‘I’m not going to do anything crazy.’”
The Western Conference playoffs are scheduled to begin in mid-April, roughly seven months after VanVleet’s surgery. That would be an aggressive timeline for an ACL recovery.
For context, ACL injuries typically require nine months or more before a player returns to full NBA competition. Houston has not indicated it would rush VanVleet back, particularly with the team playing well.
Rockets Going Strong Despite Missing VanValeet
The Rockets have remained competitive without a traditional starting point guard. Houston has relied on Alperen Şengün, Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson, rookie Reed Sheppard, and veteran Aaron Holiday to initiate the offense. While the approach has worked in stretches, ball movement has been inconsistent at times, highlighting VanVleet’s absence.
Houston currently sits 26-16 and fourth in the Western Conference. After a brief three-game skid in early January, the Rockets stabilized with a 4-2 stretch. They did suffer a 128-122 overtime loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Jan. 22.
In any case, VanVleet’s status is uncertain, and the Rockets must be operating under the assumption that he may not return this season. They return to action Friday, Jan. 23, against the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons.
