As the Houston Rockets prepare for the 2025-26 NBA season, they have already suffered what will hopefully be their biggest gut punch.
After loading up with Kevin Durant and Dorian Finney-Smith this summer, the Rockets looked primed to open their first true window of contention since James Harden left for the Brooklyn Nets. Instead, Fred VanVleet tore his ACL and is out for the season. The Rockets will be without an experienced playmaker in the starting lineup.
Houston has been linked to trade candidates like Anfernee Simons and Jrue Holiday, although with a talented young core, it stands to reason that either Amen Thompson or Reed Sheppard will step up. Head coach Ime Udoka clarified what he expects from his young players.
GettyWith Fred VanVleet set to miss the entire 2025-26 NBA season, third-year guard Amen Thompson must now takeover the lead point guard role for the Houston Rockets in what is projected to be a breakout year for the young star.
Ime Udoka Makes Rockets’ PG Announcement
Even with VanVleet out for an extended time, the Rockets are expected to make some noise in the West. After all, Durant is still an elite player, and the Rockets already had a solid cast in place before he arrived.
However, Durant is not a facilitator. The Rockets, barring a slow start, do not want to make a trade for a veteran, and like their roster as it currently stands.
“You look at Amen, you look at Reed, those guys are gonna play a lot more and initiate a lot more, and handle the ball a lot,” Udoka said at media day. “And so that’ll get expedited a little bit, and you can go with a lot of different directions.”
Sheppard was drafted third overall in 2024 with the hopes that he could facilitate and shoot from deep with elite efficiency. Thompson, on the other hand, is not a floor-spacer but is adept at handling the ball and is one of the best defenders in the NBA. The Rockets, without compromising their versatility, will hope that two of their brighter young players can take a leap.
Fans React to Houston Rockets News
While bringing in someone like Simons or Holiday makes sense on paper, doing so would compromise Houston’s current roster, as the team would have to send valuable assets out in exchange for a veteran.
With Thompson and Sheppard, neither of whom have run point for extended time at the NBA level, there will be growing pains, although those should be mitigated with veteran scorers surrounding them.
Fans, for the most part, like that the Rockets are seemingly trying to avoid a trade.
“Point guard Amen might be prime Russ,” hoped one fan.
“Amen at PG will be a sight to see, added another, optimistically.
“Reed Sheppard!!!!!!!!!!!” added a third.
While Sheppard and Thompson are brimming with potential and could use an increased role, not everyone is convinced that it’s a recipe for success.
“Amen isn’t close enough ready to be a starter,” argued a doubter.
“He’s great defensively but scoring and facilitating as a point guard is a completely different skillset,” rationalized another.
If the Rockets get off to a slow start, it stands to reason that Udoka might pivot and ask the front office to bring in a more experienced floor general, although if the blueprint looks good, expect Houston to stay the course.
Houston Rockets Fans React to Ime Udoka’s Amen Thompson Announcement