The Houston Rockets have secured the return of starting point guard Fred VanVleet on a new two-year, $50 million contract, according to NBA insider Shams Charania.
The agreement includes a player option for the 2026–27 season and replaces the $44.9 million team option the franchise declined. The deal was negotiated through Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul.
VanVleet was a critical contributor in Houston’s rise to the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference during the 2024–25 season. He averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game while playing 35.2 minutes per contest across 60 starts.
In the postseason, the 31-year-old guard elevated his performance, scoring 18.7 points per game and shooting 43.5% from three in a seven-game first-round series against Golden State.
Per ESPN Research, VanVleet ranked seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio this past season, reinforcing his role as a stabilizing presence in the Rockets’ backcourt.
This new contract gives Houston continuity at the point guard position as the organization prepares to integrate Kevin Durant, whose trade from Phoenix becomes official on July 6.
The Rockets’ trade package for Durant includes Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, a first-round pick via Brooklyn, and five second-round selections.
With VanVleet returning and Durant set to join a roster led by Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., and Amen Thompson, Houston enters the 2025–26 campaign with significant playoff expectations.
VanVleet has now averaged 35 or more minutes per game for six consecutive seasons. Despite modest scoring averages during the regular season, his experience and leadership have proven valuable for a team transitioning into contender status.
He first signed with the Rockets in 2023 and quickly emerged as one of the team’s most vocal leaders on and off the court.
Houston finished 52–30 last season under head coach Ime Udoka, marking a dramatic improvement from the previous year’s 22–60 record. The team was eliminated in the first round by the Warriors but is widely viewed as one of the league’s fastest-rising contenders.
