One of the Golden State Warriors' biggest rivals has suffered a devastating blow on the eve of the NBA season, with Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet suffering a torn ACL just over a week out from training camp.
As first reported by ESPN's Shams Charania on Monday, VanVleet is now likely to miss the entire season in what is a brutal blow for a Rockets team looking to take the jump into championship contention after the blockbuster addition of former Warrior Kevin Durant.
Fred VanVleet's injury causes a ripple effect on the Warriors
The VanVleet injury will have a major impact on Houston's chances in the Western Conference, particularly given their lack of point guard depth which will now likely see them rely heavily on second-year lottery pick Reed Sheppard.