Rockets Notes: VanVleet, Thompson, Engelland, More

Rockets head coach Ime Udoka recently gave an encouraging health update on Fred VanVleet, who’s in the final stages of his recovery from a torn ACL he suffered a year ago, according to Brian Barefield of Big Sarge Media (Twitter video link).

“Great,” Udoka said of VanVleet’s progress (hat tip to BasketNews). “In the last month or so, he has really ramped it up in San Diego doing his rehab. He’s doing some back-to-backs, some contact, so when you get to that point, you get a little more excited, and I’m sure he is as well.

“Me being a guy who’s had two ACL tears, I know there are these check marks that you have to check off and you go through the process.”

VanVleet, who exercised his $25MM player option for 2026/27 in June, told Andscape in July he was disappointed to miss all of last season with the injury. He also said he was optimistic he’d be able to play in Houston’s preseason opener next month.

Here’s more on the Rockets:

• Speaking to Barefield (Twitter video link), Rockets general manager Rafael Stone said it was a “pretty easy” decision to sign Amen Thompson to a five-year, $208MM rookie scale extension extension 10 days ago. “He wants to be here (and) we want to be with him,” Stone said of Thompson. “We’re extraordinarily happy with his progress and so (we’re) happy it worked out.”
• In that same media session, Udoka addressed the addition of veteran assistant coach Chip Engelland, who’s widely regarded as one of the top player development and specifically shooting coaches in the league. Udoka has known Engelland for 20 years, dating back to their time together in San Antonio, and said Engelland has been a mentor to several current members of Houston’s coaching staff. “Obviously Garrett Jackson, Ben Sullivan, Cam Hodges, all those guys came up under him,” Udoka told Chancellor Johnson (Twitter video link). “It’s kind of having the mentor back in the building for those guys. They’ve done a great job with our guys, and just to have the master at what he does in the building has been good for us. He’s enthused to be back with some guys who are familiar faces, and to get to know the young guys. I think he’ll obviously be a benefit for our guys in the shooting aspect.” Engelland has already working with Thompson on his jump shot, according to the team (Twitter video link).
• In case you missed it, we relayed a few more Rockets Notes on Friday.