Fred VanVleet runs Houston's offense with care rather than volume, posting 6.4 assists to 1.0 turnover and an 18.8 net rating. Houston can lean on him through a $25.0M player-option year only if his shot and his knee both come back.
Last season
VanVleet played five games at 30.4 minutes, averaging 13.0 points, 6.4 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals. The headline is the ratio: 6.4 assists against 1.0 turnover on an 18.0% usage rate. The caveat is the shooting. He made 37.5% from the field and 33.3% on 7.2 threes per game, which works out to 52.7% true shooting, low for the lead guard of a 120.4 offense.
October 25
The right knee first appeared on the injury report here. He was listed out, moved to day-to-day and cleared within the same day, and he kept playing. The on-court results held up: a 125.6 offensive rating and a 106.7 defensive rating, good for a plus-18.8 net, well above the team's 10.8. His 26.7% assist rate shows how much of the offense went through him.
October 30
In the 116-111 Cup loss in Dallas he had 16 points, six assists, five boards and no turnovers in 33 minutes. His plus-1 was one of three positive marks on the team. He went 6-for-17 and 3-for-10 from three. He scored seven in the fourth, second to Durant's 11. With three seconds left, his fifth foul, a take foul, sent Kyrie Irving to the line for the final two points.
October 31
He is listed out for the Thunder with the right knee, alongside Reed Sheppard (back) and Steven Adams (calf). That leaves the ball with Amen Thompson, who had six assists in 40 minutes in Dallas, and Marcus Smart, who had four assists and three turnovers in 17 minutes. Oklahoma City arrives without Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace.
November 2
Boston at home is his projected return date. Houston does not need more volume from him; an 18.0% usage rate fits next to Durant and Sengun. It needs more of those 7.2 threes to fall. At $25.0M, the third-largest salary on a $200.4M payroll, a careful passer who does not space the floor costs too much. The verdict: keep the turnovers low, but make the defense pay for leaving him open.
Is Fred VanVleet playing against the Thunder?
No. A right knee problem has him listed out, and November 2 against Boston is his expected return.
What is Fred VanVleet's contract with the Rockets?
He is playing 2026-27 on a $25.0M player option. It is the third-largest salary on a $200.4M payroll, which sits right at the luxury tax line.
