Rockets will miss something only Fred VanVleet brings most after devastating injury

The Houston Rockets will badly miss Fred VanVleet. His absence will be felt beyond the basic box score numbers.

If anything, the basic numbers say VanVleet struggled in 2024-25. He averaged 14.1 points and 5.6 assists with a True Shooting % (TS%) of 51.5%. On a surface level, that's an eminently replaceable player.

Here's another number: 1.5. That's how many turnovers per game VanVleet averaged. It's a uniquely low number for a player with VanVleet's passing volume:

It was integral to the Rockets' 2024-25 game plan.

Rockets' Fred VanVleet was a vital cog

The Rockets' 114.9 Offensive Rating ranked 12th in the NBA. If you watched them, that came as a surprise. The offense looked rudimentary, even ugly at times. How did they do it?

The Rockets dominated the possession game. They were the best offensive rebounding team in the NBA by a wide margin. That was helpful, but they also minimized turnovers. Houston was 11th in turnovers per game (13.9).

They're likely to shoot down that list without VanVleet.

Let's be honest: Both Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard will be turnover machines when they're running point. That's just reality. Thompson will be driving into a paint that's packed with defenders, daring him to shoot. Sheppard will be a sophomore who barely got on the floor in 2024-25.

It's going to be difficult. It's nearly impossible to find a high-volume passer who turns the ball over as rarely as VanVleet:

That points to the broader reason the team will miss him.

Fred VanVleet is a leader for the Rockets

There are qualities in a basketball player that can't be quantified. It's not simply that VanVleet seldom turns the ball over. The reason he seldom turns the ball over is that, simply put, he knows how to play the game. He also knows how to make sure the Rockets play the right way.

VanVleet directs traffic. He tells his guys where to be. It often appears as though he's an extension of Ime Udoka on the floor. There's immeasurable value in having a guy like that on the court.

In 2025-26, the Rockets will jump from the frying pan into the fire. It will be Kevin Durant's debut season with the squad. Expectations will be high. The team's young players would have benefited from having VanVleet in the fold.

Ultimately, it's part of sports. Players get injured every year. Fans can only cross their fingers for a speedy recovery. The Rockets will want VanVleet back when 2026-27 gets underway:

For now, they'll have to play without their leader.