VanVleet believes the Rockets have the ability to contend for the championship.

The Houston Rockets will begin their preseason next month to prepare for the 2026/27 NBA season. Fred VanVleet stated that he believes the team has enough talent to contend for a championship, but also emphasized that the team's daily routines and focus will be key factors.

Houston Rockets shooting guard Fred VanVleet suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during practice last September, causing him to miss the entire 2025/26 season. However, the star player has made optimistic progress in his recovery.

"Thinking back to this time 12 months ago, I couldn't even walk, so I feel like my recovery is going pretty well, and I'm in great shape now," said VanVleet, 32.

"Nothing can be completely equated with the real NBA, including the actual intensity, speed, and real competition in the game, which are irreplaceable."

In a key game of the 6th round of the 2025/26 NBA playoffs, the Houston Rockets, after scoring by Amen Thompson, Alperen Shinkyung, and Tali Ethan, ultimately lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 78-98 at home, ending their playoff run in the first round with a 2-4 series score.

VanVleet said, "There are still many positive things to analyze from last season. Our team learned a lot last year, and these experiences will be valuable for the future, even if the experience was very difficult at the time."

"When this roster was first assembled, it was so that Stephen Adams and I would be on the court, not on the bench, or sitting on the sidelines in casual clothes. I think many things will naturally return to how they should be."

Speaking about Marcus Smart, who joined the Houston Rockets in July, VanVleet said, "His defensive intensity, vision, and hunger for victory will be a huge help to the team. He has played for some very good teams, so he can share his experience with others, which will help us grow."

“Our daily habits, focus, and the kind of team we want to be are, I think, more important than the ultimate goal. Our roster has enough talent to compete for a championship, but we still have a long way to go to reach our goal.”

In addition, VanVleet said, "I like pressure, so I won't deliberately avoid it. Things will certainly not be that simple, but I think we will appear in front of everyone in a completely different light. I believe we will play more as a team and our overall performance will be even better."

Image source: Internet