Apr 26, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) dribbles against the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter of game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Apr 26, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) dribbles against the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter of game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Veteran guard Fred VanVleet hasn’t played in over one full season since tearing his ACL last September. At 32, there are real concerns that VanVleet’s best days are already behind him, but hope remains strong for both his future and the Rockets’.
In a press conference during media day this week, the one-time All-Star spoke on his return and shared his new perspective on life after a season-ending injury. He says he’s actually enjoyed the process and is grateful to finally return to action after a full season of inactivity.
“I’m enjoying every aspect of it. I’m even enjoying media day,” said VanVleet. “I’m happy I have a whole newfound perspective on this whole thing that we do here that we call a job and life in general. I’m just really grateful and excited to get back out there on the court.”
VanVleet had never experienced an injury of that magnitude before, so the whole thing was unfamiliar territory. Nevertheless, he credits the ordeal with changing him for the better and helping him find out more about himself.
“I never had a real injury before, but I definitely felt the pain and severity of the moment,” said VanVleet on ESPN. “I was in denial. I didn’t want to believe it. Looking back now, it was a life-changing moment. We all have these ideas of who we are and who we think we are, and then you get put in a situation where you have to actually be that. I’ve been priding myself on mental toughness, patience, just working hard, and determination. The organization knows what I bring to the table. My teammates know what I bring to the table.”
For VanVleet, it was no easy feat to complete rehab and get back to full health, but he achieved it through hard work and great patience. Now, with a few weeks until his first official game back, VanVleet’s biggest concern is how to help his team achieve its goals, and he’s in a position to make a massive impact with career averages of 14.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game on 40.1% shooting from the field. Between himself, the starters, and new additions like Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic, Fred believes the Rockets can contend for a title.
“I think we can win a championship this year, but that’s internal,” VanVleet added. “The lead-up to the moment doesn’t matter. We just watched the Knicks do it, and nobody paid any attention. Then they got there, and they dominated, and they were the best team ever. We got a lot of work to do.”
By all accounts, the Rockets are underdogs to win the title this season, but so were the Knicks before they proved everyone wrong. VanVleet wants to follow a similar story in Houston this year, but it’ll be easier said than done, especially with the team trying to limit Durant’s minutes.
Between questions about Durant’s workload, a fragile bench lineup, and the strength of competition, there are plenty of reasons to doubt the Rockets’ chances, but you can’t count them out completely. If they managed to go 52-30 without VanVleet, it’s hard to imagine they don’t do even better with him on the floor. That’s why his comeback is such a big deal for them, and why expectations are relatively high coming off a first-round playoff loss to the Lakers.