VanVleet targets Rockets preseason return from knee injury

His $25 million option covers the 2026-27 season.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jul 251 min read

Houston #Rockets guard Fred VanVleet 'feels like a rookie again' in return from knee injury. After missing all of 2025-2 Via @MarcJSpears on X

What happened: Fred VanVleet says he is close to resuming full-time court work after daily rehabilitation workouts. He described the comeback as feeling like a rookie and said Houston still has a championship ceiling.

Why it matters: Houston's ball security declined sharply during his absence, making his comeback central to the offense and its title ambitions. The upcoming season is the final year of his two-year contract.

By the numbers: VanVleet missed all 82 regular-season games in 2025-26. Houston ranked 27th in turnover rate after placing 11th and seventh in his first two seasons with the team.

What to watch: His progression to full-time court work is the next checkpoint before training camp. Preseason availability will provide the first test of his readiness for opening night.

Sources

@MarcJSpears 2026-07-25T05:39:21.022271+00:00

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