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SportsFading · day 6

VanVleet Returns to Rockets Media Day, Durant Rejects Reduced Role

Fred VanVleet says he's on track from his ACL tear as Houston hopes his return eases its dependence on Kevin Durant, who wants no cutback in his own workload.

newest coverage 8h agosummary written 1d ago13 pieces1 likes & upvotes NewswiresRedditMastodon

What to know

  • Houston is betting that Fred VanVleet's return from a torn ACL will fix last season's turnover problems and reduce dependence on Kevin Durant.
  • Durant himself pushed back on any plan to lighten his workload, complicating the team's stated strategy.
  • VanVleet says he is still in the return-to-play process and expects an adjustment period before regaining game speed.
  • Houston has lost in the first round of the playoffs each of the past two seasons and is looking for VanVleet, Steven Adams' return, and young-player growth to raise its ceiling.

Fred VanVleetFred VanVleet Rockets point guard returning from ACL tearKevin DurantKevin Durant Rockets forward, team's offensive hubIme Udoka Rockets head coachBogdan Bogdanovic Rockets free-agent addition (wing)Anonymous NBA scout League scout consulted by Sports Illustrated

VanVleet Returns to Rockets Media Day, Durant Rejects Reduced Role
Yahoo Sports

How it unfolded 6 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 3 pieces in two hours at Sep 22, 12 PM; 13 pieces over 6 days (10 articles · 3 posts) Sep 18, 8 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 18, 10 AM — quietSep 18, 12 PM — quietSep 18, 2 PM — quietSep 18, 4 PM — quietSep 18, 6 PM — quietSep 18, 8 PM — quietSep 18, 10 PM — quietSep 19, 12 AM — quietSep 19, 2 AM — quietSep 19, 4 AM — quietSep 19, 6 AM — quietSep 19, 8 AM — quietSep 19, 10 AM — quietSep 19, 12 PM — quietSep 19, 2 PM — quietSep 19, 4 PM — quietSep 19, 6 PM — quietSep 19, 8 PM — quietSep 19, 10 PM — quietSep 20, 12 AM — quietSep 20, 2 AM — quietSep 20, 4 AM — quietSep 20, 6 AM — quietSep 20, 8 AM — quietSep 20, 10 AM — quietSep 20, 12 PM — quietSep 20, 2 PM — quietSep 20, 4 PM — quietSep 20, 6 PM — quietSep 20, 8 PM — quietSep 20, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 12 AM — quietSep 21, 2 AM — quietSep 21, 4 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 21, 6 AM — quietSep 21, 8 AM — quietSep 21, 10 AM — quietSep 21, 12 PM — quietSep 21, 2 PM — quietSep 21, 4 PM — quietSep 21, 6 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 12 AM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 22, 8 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — 3 pieces · 2 articles · 1 post — Newswires 2, Reddit 1Sep 22, 2 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 22, 4 PM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Sep 22, 6 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 22, 8 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 22, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Yesterday, 4 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Yesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quiet 12345–6
Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22yesterdaynow · 2:04 AM ET
  1. 6

    Rockets say they hope to make 'real noise' this season

    ESPN reports the Rockets enter the 2026-27 season fully healthy with VanVleet back at the helm, with the team expressing hope of a deeper playoff run after consecutive first-round exits.

    “There's no translation to a real NBA game. I don't care what type of training you do or what type of pickup you play or anything like that.”
    — Fred VanVleet, Rockets point guard · source

    1. 1 outlet first by ESPN NBA, 1d ago · read ↗

    • nba@channels.im

      Fred VanVleet returns to Houston Rockets after ACL injury https://www. rawchili.com/nba/841522/ # Basketball # NBA

      nba@channels.imMastodon1d ago1▲view on Mastodon ↗
    1 more of the top 2 · 2 posts in this stretch

    • Rockets, with return of VanVleet, hope to make 'real noise' https://www. espn.com/nba/story/_/id/500077 12/rockets-return-vanvleet-hope-make-real-noise?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub Posted into NBA @ nba-espn

      espn@flipboard.comMastodon1d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  2. 5

    Durant rejects idea of a reduced workload

    Kevin Durant pushed back on any suggestion that VanVleet's return should mean a smaller workload for him in year two with Houston.

    1. 1 outlet Kevin Durant Pushes Back on Potential Rockets Plan

      first by Sports Illustrated, 1d ago

  3. 4

    VanVleet speaks at Rockets media day about his comeback

    At Houston's media day, exactly a year after his ACL tear, VanVleet said he is playing five-on-five and will be a full participant in training camp but expects an adjustment period before regaining game speed; teammate Bogdan Bogdanovic praised him as an 'old-school point guard.'

    1. 1 outlet Rockets news: First look at Fred VanVleet in training camp after ACL injury

      first by Yahoo Sports, 11h ago

    2. 1 outlet Rockets Get Major Fred VanVleet Update at Media Day

      first by Sports Illustrated, 1d ago

  4. 3

    Analysts say VanVleet could make Durant even better

    A follow-up piece argues that while Durant remains Houston's offensive hub, VanVleet's return could cut turnovers and generate better shots for the veteran forward.

    1. 1 outlet first by Yahoo Sports, 1d ago · read ↗

  5. 2

    Preview frames VanVleet's return as key to year two

    A Rockets season preview argues Houston can contend again if Fred VanVleet, back from a torn ACL, can finally give Durant a reliable primary ballhandler and fix the chemistry issues from year one.

    1. 1 outlet Houston Rockets season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

      first by Yahoo Sports, 2d ago

  6. 2 days quiet
  7. 1

    Scout says Rockets were 'way too reliant' on Durant

    An anonymous NBA scout tells Sports Illustrated that Houston's first-round playoff exit exposed excessive dependence on Kevin Durant, and predicts Fred VanVleet's return will be a significant upgrade over last season's point-guard rotation.

    “Getting Fred VanVleet back will be big. He's going to be better than Reed Sheppard was last year.”
    — Anonymous NBA scout
    1. 1 outlet Rockets Get Major Fred VanVleet Injury Update Before NBA Season

      first by Yahoo Sports, 1d ago

      1 more headline

    2. 1 outlet first by Sports Illustrated, 5d ago · read ↗

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