Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet has a bold theory about what went wrong this season—and it starts with himself.
After trading for Kevin Durant in the summer, the Rockets entered the 2025-26 campaign with sky-high expectations. Many viewed them as a legitimate threat to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. And why not? Houston was a young, talented, defensive-minded squad that had finally added the clutch scorer they desperately needed down the stretch.
But just before the season tipped off, VanVleet suffered an ACL tear during a September practice. While it was a significant loss, most NBA analysts believed the Rockets still had enough firepower to compete in the Western Conference under head coach Ime Udoka. And for a while, they did—starting strong before gradually regressing as the season wore on.
Houston finished as the fifth seed in the West, but their playoff run ended abruptly. They were stunned in the first round by a Los Angeles Lakers team that was missing Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves for much of the series—a result that left many scratching their heads.
In the aftermath of that upset, speculation has swirled about what went wrong. But VanVleet has a clear answer: his absence was the biggest factor.
"I know what I bring to the table, and I know that we will be a better team with me on the team," VanVleet said in a new video 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 my being available, being around, and bringing my energy—before you even get to the game."
"My leadership and competitiveness, that's what I do," he added. "I try to make everything I touch better. That's my mindset. Not saying I do or I don't, but that's how I view it when I go in."
The one-time All-Star holds a $25.5 million player option for next season. His comments suggest he's likely to exercise it—or at least expects to negotiate a new long-term deal at a lower annual salary.
Whether VanVleet's return alone can lift the Rockets back into contention remains to be seen, but he's certainly not lacking in confidence.