Overview
- On his Unguarded podcast, VanVleet said he is about five to six months post-surgery, is doing on-court workouts, and has adjusted timelines based on post-surgery progress.
- He stressed he is not announcing a comeback nor ruling one out, framing any return as contingent on how he feels and future clearance.
- ACL recoveries for NBA players commonly run nine months or more, which places a late-season appearance in the unlikely yet possible category.
- The Rockets are 41-25 and third in the Western Conference, having stayed competitive without him but leaving the door open for a late boost.
- Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard have taken on expanded ball-handling duties, and coverage notes VanVleet could help stabilize Houston’s spacing and defense if he is cleared.