Veteran point guard Fred VanVleet will return to the Houston Rockets starting lineup for the 2026-27 NBA season.
He missed the entire 2025-26 campaign due to a torn right Achilles and meniscus suffered before training camp.
Head coach Ime Udoka confirmed that VanVleet is expected to reclaim his starting role once fully cleared.
Houston's Offensive Struggles Without VanVleet
Without VanVleet, Houston struggled with ball handling, finishing 24th in turnover percentage and 19th in halfcourt points per play.
Despite those issues, the team still recorded the seventh-best overall offensive rating.
In his last active season in 2024-25, the 32-year-old guard averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game.
His presence reduced Houston's turnover rate by 2.5 percentage points, ranking in the 97th percentile league-wide according to Cleaning the Glass analytical data.
Impact on Young Guards and New Additions
VanVleet expressed eagerness to return to the hardwood alongside summer addition Kevin Durant and the young core.
"I haven't really played with Reed yet," Fred VanVleet, Houston Rockets point guard, said during his media day interview.
His return shifts young guards Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard back into complementary roles.
Thompson, who averaged 18.3 points and 5.3 assists while covering lead guard duties, transitions back to starting shooting guard.
Sheppard returns to anchor the secondary unit alongside free-agent acquisition Marcus Smart.
