Can Fred VanVleet rejoin Rockets this season? Time is running out

The Rockets have struggled on their current road trip, going 1-2 with a pair of brutal losses in Chicago and Minnesota. Each featured the Rockets blowing a multi-possession lead late in the fourth quarter or overtime, and that’s an all-too-familiar theme this season.

With those defeats, Houston (44-29) has fallen to No. 6 in the tightly packed Western Conference standings, which would mean opening the 2026 NBA playoffs on the road and without home-court advantage. That wouldn’t inspire much confidence, since the Rockets are just 19-19 away from Houston this season.

And if the Rockets are going to turn things around by the playoffs, it appears they’ll have to figure things out from within their current rotation.

Per this week’s update from head coach Ime Udoka, it doesn’t appear that Fred VanVleet (right ACL tear) will return to game action until next season.

When asked about VanVleet’s current activity levels, Udoka said:

Shooting, cutting, moving, non-contact (drills). That’s pretty much the extent of the on-court. Right around the six-month mark, you can start to ramp up things. But, no contact at any point soon, or nothing we’re looking forward to, honestly.

Obviously, you’re not looking at playing if you’re not getting on the court and (going through) contact, this late in the season.

The 2026 playoffs begin in exactly three weeks, and considering that VanVleet hasn’t gone through contact work since his September injury, any physical ramp-up period will likely be prolonged. Post-ACL surgery, the average timeline to return to NBA games is 9-12 months.

Thus, while not officially ruled out, time is running out in late March.

Ime Udoka spoke about Fred VanVleet's progress in rehabbing the ACL injury, though it sounds pretty clear he doesn't expect a return this season.

"Shooting, cutting, moving, non contact," said Udoka on Fred's current status. "That's pretty much the extent of the on-court. Right… pic.twitter.com/LGcFEayQwz

— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) March 23, 2026

With VanVleet unavailable, young guards Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard have taken on the majority of Houston’s ball-handling and playmaking responsibilities this season.

Should VanVleet not return in the 2025-26 campaign, he is expected to be fully cleared by the time training camp for the 2026-27 season opens in late September.

Over his two playing seasons (2023-24 and 2024-25) with the Rockets, VanVleet averaged 15.9 points (36.9% on 3-pointers), 6.9 assists, and only 1.7 turnovers per game as Houston’s starting point guard. Now 32 years old, VanVleet is extremely well regarded for his leadership and defensive abilities, as well.

To say the least, his on-court absence has been felt, and that will likely continue to be the case until next season’s training camp opens in a few months.

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