Will Amen Thompson Step In?

Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet suffered a torn ACL and can seemingly miss the entire 2025-26 season, sources say.

The heartbreaking blow comes just a few months after he signed a two-year, $50 million extension with Houston, leaving the staff in a decent spot because it tries to make final season’s playoff push successful.

VanVleet’s Contribution to the Rockets

Since becoming a member of the Rockets in 2023, VanVleet has been central to the staff’s resurgence. In his first season, he helped the franchise climb from 22 wins to 41, earlier than main them to a 52-win marketing campaign and the No. 2 seed within the Western Conference final season, in keeping with ESPN.

While his scoring dipped to 14.1 factors per sport in 2024-25, VanVleet turned up his manufacturing within the playoffs, averaging 18.7 factors and showcasing his trademark grit.

The former All-Star and 2019 NBA champion additionally introduced veteran management to a younger roster in rebuilding mode to competition. His protection, quantity three-point taking pictures, and constant playmaking offered Houston with the steadiness it required to complement its younger stars.

Who Replaces VanVleet’s Void at Point Guard?

Houston will look into its mixture of younger items and veteran reserve now that VanVleet is out. Most attention-grabbing is Amen Thompson, a 6-foot-7 guard who was an NBA All-Defensive First Team choice final season. He is the dual brother of Ausar Thompson, who’s presently enjoying for the Detroit Pistons.

Thompson is already acknowledged as one of many league’s elite defensive guards, averaging 8.2 rebounds per sport, essentially the most amongst guards.

With VanVleet sidelined, he’s anticipated to imagine main playmaking duties, in keeping with Sports Illustrated. It’s a job he has been making ready for all offseason, specializing in ball dealing with and sharpening his command of the offense.

Aaron Holiday presents a constant veteran presence. While often caught in backup minutes, the 28-year-old has been a gradual hand and will have extra of a spot-starting position down the highway.

Reed Sheppard, taken third general within the 2024 draft, is a wild card. With his elite taking pictures stroke in school, Sheppard may stretch defenses and create scoring depth if he will get elevated enjoying time. His 52.1% taking pictures is what the Rockets want for extra offense.

Can Rockets Make it to the Playoffs?

Losing VanVleet hurts, but it surely does not essentially get rid of the Rockets from competition. With Kevin Durant on the roster and the younger core in Houston rising quickly, the staff nonetheless has adequate firepower to remain within the combine within the stacked Western Conference.

Nevertheless, VanVleet’s loss will imply that somebody ought to step as much as substitute him briefly. Thompson’s emergence as a playmaking guard may decide the Rockets’ ceiling, and Sheppard’s potential to hold over his taking pictures to the NBA degree may provide an X-factor.

VanVleet joins Kyrie Irving as the most recent guard who will miss the following NBA season as a result of a torn ACL.