Rockets’ Fred VanVleet Not Ruling Out Return This Season

Fred VanVleet is still working his way back from a torn ACL. But the Houston Rockets guard says he has not closed the door on playing again this season.

Speaking on a recent episode of the Unguarded podcast (via RealGM), VanVleet offered an update on his recovery and suggested things are moving in the right direction.

“I’m about five, five and a half months, almost six months now,” VanVleet said. “I’m getting stronger. I’m getting better. I’m moving around a lot better. I’m getting some good on-court workouts.”

VanVleet added that the original recovery timeline has shifted slightly since surgery as the rehab process has unfolded.

“A lot of the predictions of where I was going to be were made pre-surgery,” he said. “So we’ve had to adjust that timeline as things go on.”

He added that he is keeping an open mind about a possible return before the season ends.

“Selfishly, I’m always going to keep my window open,” he said. “I’m not going to say I’m not coming back and then pop up later. I’m not ruling it out and I’m not saying I’m coming back. I’m just rehabbing and working on myself.”

VanVleet suffered the injury during a workout in late September before Houston opened training camp.

The assumption at the time was that he would miss the entire season. Neither the Rockets nor VanVleet, however, has completely ruled out a late return.