On the eve of an exciting season that had Houston Rockets fans dreaming about a potential championship run, the news of a devastating Fred VanVleet injury changed the mood of the fanbase. Earlier this week, it was reported that the Rockets' veteran point guard tore his ACL during practice ahead of the training camp. He was quickly ruled out for the season, leaving the Rockets scrambling to find solutions in his absence.
Just when the vibes in Houston were bad, VanVleet displayed his excellent leadership to pick the mood back up. On Friday, he shared a post-surgery video on his social media accounts with a strong message for Rockets fans.
Bout to knock this lil shit out, shake right back 🎲 pic.twitter.com/eYxk6APu6q
— Fred VanVleet (@FredVanVleet) September 26, 2025
Fred VanVleet Shows Exemplary Leadership in Post-Surgery Video
In the video, VanVleet is seen saying, "We're going to get another one, though, we're going to get that Houston ring, a rocket is going to come out the bottom of it," referring to his desire to win his second NBA championship with the Rockets. The fact that VanVleet was thinking about his return and leading the Rockets to glory immediately after his surgery while he was still in a hospital bed is certainly inspiring.
The inspirational video ends with VanVleet's tweet, which reads, "bet on yourself," from the summer of 2016, when he was an undrafted, undersized 22-year-old point guard out of Wichita State. His bet on himself worked, as VanVleet quickly became an integral part of a championship team in Toronto, and eventually played himself into All-Star status, becoming the fifth undrafted player ever to make the All-Star team.
The road to recovery from an ACL tear for a smaller player who will turn 32 in February will obviously be difficult. Yet, VanVleet is no stranger to such challenges. Rockets fans will be behind him throughout the process, rooting for their locker room leader and exemplary veteran.
At the same time, it's important to remember that the NBA can be a cruel business. Even though VanVleet can't be traded until December 15 because of the new deal he signed this summer, there is a scenario in which the Rockets explore the trade market for the veteran.
VanVleet has a player option for $25 million for the 2026-27 season, and since he will be coming off a torn ACL, he is likely to exercise that option. If Houston gets off to a poor start, they might look to add a starting-caliber point guard at the trade deadline, and could potentially use VanVleet's salary in this deal.
This would obviously be painful for Rockets fans to see, but regardless of where VanVleet's career takes him, he will remain a beloved figure for the fanbase.