Kevin Durant and Rockets hit with championship hammer blow before start of NBA season

Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet has torn the ACL in one of his knees and is expected to miss the entire upcoming NBA season, according to an ESPN report.

The 31-year-old’s injury delivers a crushing blow to a Rockets team that just added Kevin Durant and was eyeing a deep run in the Western Conference. The timing is especially painful, coming only days before the start of preseason.

Big contract, bigger expectations

VanVleet, who stands 6-foot and joined Houston in 2023, signed a two-year, $50 million contract extension with the Rockets over the summer.

He averaged 18.7 points per game in last season’s playoffs and was set to orchestrate an offense built around Durant and rising Turkish center Alperen Sengun, who turned heads with his standout performance at this year’s EuroBasket.

Houston on the rise with VanVleet

Since VanVleet’s arrival in 2023, the Rockets have taken major strides. They won 52 games last season and secured the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, marking their best finish in years.

How will the Rockets cope without VanVleet?

Head coach Ime Udoka will now have to rework his rotation. While defense will remain a priority, the backcourt will look different. Veteran Aaron Holiday and 2024 No. 3 draft pick Reed Sheppard could see increased roles after limited minutes last year. Second-year guard Amen Thompson, who averaged 3.8 assists last season, may also take on more playmaking duties as Houston scrambles to fill the void left by its injured floor general.

The Rockets still boast plenty of talent, but losing VanVleet for the season is a gut punch that will test their depth and championship hopes.

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