The Houston Rockets reportedly could be without Fred VanVleet for the entire 2025-26 season after he suffered a torn ACL this offseason. ESPN's Shams Charania reported Monday that the guard suffered the injury and noted it is a "devastating, potentially season-ending loss for the Rockets." The message was clear that the Rockets were all-in on chasing a championship in 2025-26, although those title chances just took quite the hit with the VanVleet injury. VanVleet averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game last season, which was his second with Houston. If Sheppard can make a second-year leap, it can help Houston tread water and remain a threat in the Western Conference even without VanVleet.