Houston Rockets guard Fred Vanvleet (5) controls the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Toyota Center.
Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Fred VanVleet made his much-awaited return from his ACL injury on Wednesday, as the Houston Rockets hosted the Dallas Mavericks at Toyota Center.
VanVleet reclaimed his spot in the starting unit, joining Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Sengun.
It did not take long for the veteran guard to sink his first bucket after being sidelined for more than 500 days, hitting a three-pointer at the 8:55 mark of the opening quarter to tie the score at 5-5.
FRED VANVLEET IS BACK!!
FVV gets his first NBA bucket in 535 days to fall with this three 🎯😤 pic.twitter.com/Ao3nCu1j8U
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 22, 2026
VanVleet suffered an ACL injury in the offseason in 2025. Despite his absence, the Rockets, led by Durant and Sengun, finished with a 52-30 record and qualified for the playoffs. They, however, lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round.
FVV gives Houston a much-needed floor general. He can control the pace, organize the offense, and make smart decisions. While the Rockets have plenty of talent, having an experienced leader like him can help them become more formidable, especially in close games.
VanVleet, however, would likely be eased in slowly by coach Ime Udoka until he regains his form.
With the one-time champion back in the fold, the Rockets could take the next step and go on a deep run in the playoffs, possibly entering the conference finals for the first time since 2018.
As of this writing, the Rockets are leading the Mavericks in the second quarter. VanVleet has three points, three assists, and one steal.
Durant has 16 points, five rebounds, one assist, and one block, while Smith has 16 points, two rebounds, one assist, and one steal.