Absurd disrespect to Fred VanVleet reveals Rockets' biggest question mark this season

As the Houston Rockets enter the 2025-26 NBA season, one of the major questions surrounding their roster centers around whether veteran guard Fred VanVleet can provide enough as a floor general in order to help facilitate the team's offense at a high level.

Yet, despite the lingering legitimacy of this concern, the recent positional ranking of floor generals by Fadeaway World's presents both an absurd criticism and a frightening worst-case scenario for VanVleet's performance with the Rockets this season.

Although VanVleet is not necessarily an elite playmaker, Fadeaway World ranks him as the 25th best floor general in the league: an absurdly low rating that underestimates his importance to Houston's offensive structure.

Fred VanVleet's playmaking will be vital to the Rockets' offense next season: for better or for worse

VanVleet, in 2024-25, saw a dip in both his assist numbers and his shooting mark from 3-point range: a combination that deeply affected Houston's versatility on offense. Yet, despite this fact, the veteran guard still had an excellent season, helping to lead his team to a strong regular season finish.

Through 60 games, VanVleet averaged 14.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists, while shooting 34.5% from beyond the arc.

While these numbers are certainly below his career expectations, he was operating in an offense that largely struggled with spacing and finishing in clutch minutes: a fact that will be turned on its head by the arrival of Kevin Durant.

Moreover, Fadeaway World ranks VanVleet immediately behind both Payton Pritchard and Jalen Suggs, neither of whom have nearly the experience or the composure the VanVleet does in leading a backcourt.

At the same time, however, the ranking reveals a possibility that might be a scary thought for many Rockets fans. What if, nearing age 32, VanVleet' regression continues to encroach on his playmaking abilities?

He has always been a shorter guard, so, on one hand, his playmaking abilities have never been dependent on his height or his athleticism: they have sprung purely from his IQ on the floor. Yet, as the Rockets focused primarily on shoring up their frontcourt this offseason, they are left without any other reliable ball-handlers in their backcourt apart from VanVleet.

If VanVleet ultimately is the 25th best floor general in the NBA, how will Houston's revamped offense hold up? Can they rely on someone like Durant, who will have other huge responsibilities on the offensive side of the ball, to attempt to also facilitate the offense? Does Alperen Sengun have another step to take in his game?

In every lie there is a kernel of truth, and, in this case, disrespect to VanVleet also unveils a very valid question about the construction of the Rockets' roster.