Fred VanVleet opens up on what being back on the court means after missing a full year

Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Fred VanVleet opens up on what being back on the court means after missing a full year

By Josh Davis Jr. | Last updated Nov 12, 2026 9:12 AM ET

Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet has returned to basketball with a different appreciation for the game after a torn right ACL cost him the entire 2025-26 season.

The veteran point guard described the joy of competing again during an appearance on “Inside the NBA.” His comments highlighted both the personal significance of his comeback and the stability he hopes to provide the Rockets.

NBA on ESPN shared the interview Thursday on X, capturing VanVleet’s perspective after an extended absence.

“Oh man, it's a joy. It's a pleasure, and just grateful to be back. Bring some of that stability to this group. We got a good team this year, so I'm enjoying every day. And you know that the game was taken away from me for a full year. You know, I think 500 days or something in between games. So, I'm appreciating every minute.”

“The game was taken away from me for a full year. … I’m appreciating every minute.”

—Fred VanVleet on what being back on the court means to him pic.twitter.com/EtzYyGAevN
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 12, 2026

Fred VanVleet brings experience back to Rockets’ backcourt

VanVleet tore his right ACL during an offseason workout in the Bahamas in September 2025. He underwent surgery later that month and missed the entire 2025-26 season, leaving the Rockets without their starting point guard.

The Rockets finished 52-30 but lost in the first round of the playoffs. VanVleet watched that campaign unfold after the Rockets added Kevin Durant, unable to contribute on the court alongside his teammates.

Now 32, VanVleet returns to Houston’s backcourt with championship experience. He won the 2019 NBA title with the Toronto Raptors before joining the Rockets in free agency in July 2023.

His return has also required continued attention to his knee. The Rockets have used injury-management absences during the early portion of the season as he resumes regular competition.

VanVleet scored 18 points in Wednesday’s 115-108 victory over the Golden State Warriors, helping Houston end Golden State’s eight-game winning streak. For the veteran guard, contributing to another win carried meaning beyond the final score.

Josh Davis Jr.

Josh Davis is a sports journalist and editor covering MLB, NFL, NBA, college football, and college basketball. He is a proud graduate of the University of Georgia’s Grady School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Davis currently serves as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints and is the founder of OutOfSightSports.

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