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Fred VanVleet is trending in the right direction in his highly anticipated on-court comeback for the Houston Rockets.
Head coach Ime Udoka offered a promising update on VanVleet's rehabilitation and ramp-up process from his torn ACL injury this offseason.
"Great," Udoka told reporters about VanVleet's progress. "In the last month or so, he has really ramped it up in San Diego doing his rehab. He's doing some back-to-backs, some contact, so when you get to that point, you get a little more excited, and I'm sure he is as well.
"Me being a guy who's had two ACL tears, I know there are these check marks that you have to check off and you go through the process."
Fred VanVleet set for Rockets return after year-long ACL tear recovery
All signs point to Fred VanVleet making a return to the hardwood next NBA season for the Houston Rockets.
VanVleet sustained a torn right ACL during a team minicamp ahead of the 2025 training camp for the Rockets. As a result, the brutal injury forced him to miss the entire previous NBA season.
Led by Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, and Amen Thompson, the Rockets clinched 52 regular-season wins without VanVleet. However, they fell in six games of the opening round of the playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers.
VanVleet exercised his $25 million player option this summer to remain in Houston this upcoming season. With him poised to play again, the veteran looks forward to helping the Rockets' title hopes.
"He can't be more excited as the season starts up, but you can see the ramp-up process with it," Udoka concluded.