Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet raised eyebrows when he said that an on-court return is possible this season during a recent episode of the Unguarded podcast. The one-time NBA champion has yet to play this year due to a torn ACL he sustained during an offseason workout.
“Yes, it is possible that I can return this season,” VanVleet said. “Doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. And I also don’t give a f**k. I would change my mind a hundred times between now and then. So, to be clear, I am doing my rehab every day with the goal in mind to return this season. But that does not mean that is what’s going to happen.”
“He’s taking strides, and he’s hit these benchmarks. But for us, we’re operating as if he won’t be back this year, but we know the possibility is there based on the timeline. If we get him back, (we’ll be) pleasantly surprised, obviously,” head coach Ime Udoka said of VanVleet’s progress.
Despite VanVleet’s absence, the Houston Rockets are performing well this season, having won 22 of their 33 regular season games thus far. They are currently fourth in the Western Conference, following their 100-97 win over the Phoenix Suns on Monday night.
Houston Rockets News: Ime Udoka dishes on Alperen Sengun’s return timeline
The Houston Rockets were without Alperen Sengun against the Phoenix Suns, as the Turkish center tweaked his ankle against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night. They proceeded to lose 110-104, and it was revealed that Sengun could be out for two weeks.
“We’ll evaluate at the end of the week, but we probably need to get the swelling out, pain tolerance down, and mobility. You’re probably looking at 10-to-14 days,” Udoka said of Sengun’s ankle injury in a recent presser.
“And so, kind of takes one of your hubs out and scoring options and a different way to attack, which is through him all over the court, but specifically in the post. And so, go to more smaller lineups, the more traditional, I think, and had the guards attacking more than, uh, facilitating through him,” he added.
