Fred VanVleet will return to the Houston Rockets for the 2026-27 season after opting into his $25 million player option, according to multiple reports. The decision comes after VanVleet missed the entire 2025-26 season due to a torn ACL sustained during unofficial team minicamp before training camp.
VanVleet signed a two-year, $50 million contract with the Rockets last summer. Despite his absence, the Rockets finished the 2025-26 season with a 52-30 record and secured the No. 5 seed in the playoffs. However, the team suffered a first-round exit, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers, a result attributed in part to a lack of a prominent ball-handler.
"I know I add value. I know what I bring to the table, and I know that we will be a better team with me on the team," VanVleet stated on his YouTube channel. "That has been the case for me on every team I’ve ever been on. I’m going to make the team better just by virtue of me being available, being around, and bringing my energy, before you even get to the game."
In his last completed season, prior to his injury, VanVleet averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game. This marked his lowest statistical output since the 2018-19 season.
VanVleet joined the Rockets in 2023-24 on a three-year, $130 million deal, concluding his seven-season tenure with the Toronto Raptors. The Rockets have also been active in bolstering their guard position, drafting Bruce Thornton from Ohio State in the 2026 NBA Draft. Thornton, who averaged 19.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in his senior season at Ohio State, brings four years of college basketball experience.
Houston is expected to continue addressing its offensive depth, particularly aiming to improve its bench scoring. The team ranked last in the NBA in bench scoring last season, averaging just 27.6 points per game.