Just days before the start of training camp, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet suffered a season-ending ACL injury. With VanVleet sidelined, the Rockets are expected to lean on second-year guard Reed Sheppard and veteran Aaron Holiday, with versatile wing Amen Thompson also expected to receive reps as the primary initiator.
Nonetheless, the backcourt duo of Sheppard and Holiday doesn’t inspire much confidence. Sheppard, the third overall pick in 2024, appeared in just 52 games as a rookie, averaging 4.4 points while shooting 35.1 percent from the field and 33.