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Fred VanVleet Has BOLD Excuse for Why Houston Rockets Disappointed This Season
TL;DR
Fred VanVleet attributes the Houston Rockets' disappointing season to his ACL tear before the start of the year. Despite high expectations after acquiring Kevin Durant, the team struggled to maintain their early success.
Key points
- Fred VanVleet suffered an ACL tear before the season started
- The Rockets traded for Kevin Durant in the summer
- Despite early strength, the team regressed during the season
Mentioned in this story
Fred VanVleetKevin DurantIme Udoka
Houston RocketsOklahoma City Thunder
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
To Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, there was a specific thing that they missed this season and led to their disappointing results: Fred VanVleet.
After trading for Kevin Durant in the summer, the Rockets were seen as a serious threat to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. And why not? They were a young, talented, defensive-driven team that added the go-to, late-game finisher they lacked in 2024-25.
But right before the season started, nine-year veteran VanVleet suffered an ACL tear during a September practice. While it was a notable loss, most NBA experts felt the Rockets had more than enough talent to still be a force in the West under head coach Ime Udoka. However, while looking strong early, they regressed as the season went along.
They ended the campaign as the fifth seed in the West, and were shockingly ousted in the opening round of the playoffs by a Los Angeles Lakers team without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves for much of the series.
Fred VanVleet says Rockets biggest problem in 2025-26 was not having Fred VanVleet
Q&A
What injury did Fred VanVleet suffer that affected the Rockets' season?
Fred VanVleet suffered an ACL tear during a practice in September, which he believes impacted the team's performance.
How did the Houston Rockets perform after acquiring Kevin Durant?
The Rockets were initially seen as a strong team but regressed as the season progressed despite early success.
Who is the head coach of the Houston Rockets?
The head coach of the Houston Rockets is Ime Udoka.
