Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka delivered potentially upsetting news to those fans who held out hope that their veteran leader and point guard, Fred VanVleet, could return this season.
Ime Udoka Provides Honest Update on Fred VanVleet’s Return Timeline
VanVleet, a key to the 2019 Toronto Raptors NBA championship team, has been out since September of last year with a torn ACL. Unfortunately for the Rockets organization, he hasn’t made the progress initially hoped for, as he still hasn’t participated in contact drills, making it highly unrealistic that he can ramp up in time to play with so little time remaining in the regular season.
After Tuesday night’s game against the New York Knicks, there are just seven regular-season games left until the playoffs, making it unrealistic that their point guard can return in time.
Rockets reporter Lachard Binkley reported from Udoka’s media conference on VanVleet’s progress from his torn ACL last season. And it isn’t good news for Rockets fans holding out hope for a return in time for the postseason.
Ime was asked if there was any update on Fred’s progress.
“Nothing new officially at the sixth month mark within the last few days, and going about his business picking up workouts on the court, but still no contact.” pic.twitter.com/AoUfjPrhCH — Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) March 31, 2026
Udoka confirmed there is nothing new on the veteran point guard’s progress toward playing. “Nothing new, officially at the six-month mark, the last few days. Going about his business, picking up workouts on the court, but still no contact. That’s kinda obviously the barometer.” Not an optimistic update without contact at this stage.
Nevertheless, when asked about a potential return this season, Udoka replied that there was “nothing we’re looking forward to, honestly.” He also added that a player is “obviously not looking at playing if you’re not getting on the court and making contact this late in the season.”
However, he seemed grounded in the reality that it would be tough to ask of someone who hadn’t played in over six months to be thrown into a playoff series.
This must also be disappointing for VanVleet, who, according to the player himself, set a six-month timeline for his return to the court. This was a timeline provided as a best-case scenario from the surgeon who operated on the torn ACL back in September, which would have made the end of March his goal.
At this stage, next season looks like a more realistic goal unless the Rockets make a deep playoff run. In the meantime, the Rockets will make do with a guard pairing of Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard to cover the loss of VanVleet. The Rockets sit only a half-game behind the Minnesota Timberwolves for the fifth seed in the West, depending on the outcome of the Knicks game.
