On Monday, without prior warning, veteran Rockets guard Fred VanVleet suddenly appeared on Houston’s injury report as out with a left adductor strain. For Tuesday night’s game in Indiana, he was replaced in the starting lineup by rookie Amen Thompson.
So, how much more time will VanVleet potentially miss with the leg injury? Ime Udoka, head coach of the Rockets, addressed the situation for the first time in Tuesday’s pregame media session at Indiana.
Via Matt Thomas, radio play-by-play broadcaster for the Rockets and a daily talk-show host on flagship station SportsTalk 790:
Fred VanVleet will be out [for] a week or so. Might be available for game at Memphis [Feb. 14] before the break. Team may also decide to wait until after the break.
Fred Van Vleet will be out a week or so. Might be available for game at Memphis before the break. Team may also decide to wait til after break.
— Matt Thomas (@SportsMT) February 6, 2024
That timetable would have VanVleet on course to miss four, and possibly five, regular-season games. Those absences would be:
- Tuesday, Feb. 6 at Indiana
- Friday, Feb. 9 at Toronto
- Saturday, Feb. 10 at Atlanta
- Monday, Feb. 12, home versus New York
- Wednesday, Feb. 14 at Memphis (possible return)
After the 14th is when Houston enters its week-long All-Star break, and the expectation is for VanVleet to certainly be available when Houston resumes play on Feb. 22 in New Orleans.
VanVleet is Houston’s third-leading scorer (16.5 points) and leads the team in assists (8.2), and his 5.1 assist-to-turnover ratio is among the NBA’s best. He’s also a valuable leader and trusted defender.
Houston (23-26) entered Tuesday’s game at 0-2 when VanVleet does not play in the 2023-24 regular season. Now 29 years old, the 6-foot-0 floor general will turn 30 later this month.
