Udoka has provided an important update on the Rockets' veteran point guard
The Houston Rockets’ starting point guard Fred VanVleet has been fully cleared for all basketball activities ahead of the training camp. At the team's 2026 media day, head coach Ime Udoka said the 32-year-old star point guard has fully recovered from a torn right ACL and meniscus that sidelined him for the entire 2025–26 NBA season.
Udoka confirmed that VanVleet has already progressed to playing in five-on-five scrimmages over the past few weeks. Reports are very encouraging, stating that he is performing at a high level already.
Regardless, the Rockets plan to remain cautious. Udoka noted that the coaching staff intends to hold VanVleet out of back-to-back games during the early portion of the regular season to properly manage his conditioning and protect his long-term health.
Fortunately, the team has newfound depth at the point guard position, as they signed Marcus Smart and Bruce Thornton, so when VanVleet does get rested, the team can feel more comfortable with the backups.
As a veteran leader, VanVleet holds a critical role for the Rockets and is an important factor in the team being a legitimate championship contender. Despite completely missing VanVleet last year, the Rockets finished the regular season with 52 wins.
Houston was able to manage without him in the regular season, but his absence was detrimental in the playoffs. VanVleet acts as Ime Udoka's floor general, and without him, the offense lacked composure and creativity.
VanVleet has a very high basketball IQ as a ball handler. He consistently has a very high assist-to-turnover ratio: he finished 4th overall in the entire NBA with a 4.76 ratio in the 2024-25 season, and had a 3.73 ratio in the following season. His impressive assist-to-turnover ratio displays not only his IQ but also his elite situational control.
VanVleet will also elevate the team's 3 point shooting, especially in terms of volume, which was one of Houston's biggest weaknesses. He averages 6.7 three-point attempts per game, forcing opposing defenses to spread out to guard him, thereby creating wider driving lanes.
VanVleet also has valuable playoff experience. VanVleet has played 59 career playoff games, including winning the NBA Championship in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors. VanVleet was crucial to the Raptors' success. In the Finals against the Golden State Warriors, he averaged 14 points per game and shot 52.6% from three-point range.
With a healthy Fred VanVleet reclaiming the steering wheel, the Rockets have the potential to be a true contender in the stacked Western Conference. If Fred can shake off the rust and be the floor general Houston paid him to be, they aren't just looking at another fun playoff seed; they’re looking at a legitimate title run.
