With Van Jordan injured! The new Rockets 5 tigers are unexpectedly formed, one reason makes Westbrook Simmons impossible

On September 23, 2025, Houston Rockets fans were still immersed in the new season's championship, but were thrown cold water by a bad news: the team's main point guard Fred VanVleet was accidentally injured in a mini training camp in the Bahamas. He was diagnosed with an ACL torn, and the operation time has been set this week, and it is highly likely that the season will be reimbursed. This key figure who is loved by fans to be called "Van Jordan" fell, making the Rockets' road to winning the championship full of variables.

VanVleet is of great significance to the Rockets. Last season, he played 60 games, averaged 14.1 points per game, scored 3.7 rebounds, sent 5.6 assists, and scored 1.6 steals, with a three-point shooting percentage of 34.5%. In the playoffs, he was even more a big-hearted player, averaging 18.7 points per game, and his three-point shooting percentage soared to 43.5%. He hit key balls many times at critical moments of the game and carried the team forward. Now his injury has greatly reduced the strength of the Rockets' back line, and the team has to re-plan.

fans wanted to find replacements for the Rockets in the free agent market, and Westbrook and Ben Simmons were rightfully in the scope of consideration. Westbrook averaged 13.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game in the Nuggets last season, and contributed 1.6 steals, with first-class impact and experience. Ben Simmons is tall and has long arms, and his defense covers from No. 1 to No. 5. He averages 10.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game in his career, and has excellent organizational tandem ability. But the reality is cruel. According to ESPN salary expert Bobby Marks, the Rockets' estimated salary in the new season is $194.7 million, the luxury tax line is 187.8 million, and the first tyrant line is 195.9 million. The team is only 1.25 million US dollars away from the first tyrant line. This has made the Rockets have almost zero operating space in the free agent market, and fans' expectations may be dashed. The Rockets cannot sign Westbrook or Simmons, so they can only turn their attention to the inside.

Fortunately, young players within the Rockets have emerged, bringing new hope to the team. The starting lineup in the new season is likely to be significantly adjusted, with Amen Thompson taking the lead in point guard position. In the 2024-2025 season, Amen Thompson's performance was remarkable, playing 69 games, averaging 32.2 minutes per game, scoring 14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks, with a shooting percentage of 55.7%. He is 2.01 meters tall, has an arm span of 2.13 meters, and has excellent athletic ability. He can be regarded as the team's gate on the defensive end. He can defend from No. 1 to No. 4, and even occasionally defend from No. 5. On the offensive end, his breakthroughs were sharp and his organizational skills were also improving. During Van Vleet's absence, he took on the heavy responsibility of the organization many times, with assists in a single game and double-digit assists many times.

shooting guard is played by Tari Ethan. Last season, Ethan played 78 games, averaging 28.6 minutes per game, contributing 11.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals, shooting percentage of 47.7% and three-point shooting percentage of 33.8%. He has a strong physical fitness, active defense, and good performance on the offensive end, especially in fast attacks and second attacks, he can always seize the opportunity to score.

The small forward is still superstar Kevin Durant. He doesn't need to introduce it too much. As a top scorer in the league, he averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game in the Suns last season, with a shooting percentage of 52.6% and a three-point shooting percentage of 43.5%. His existence is a huge deterrence to the opponent's defense line.

Power forward Jabbarry Smith, who played 75 games last season, averaged 29.3 minutes per game, scored 13.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 blocks, shooting percentage of 44.2% and three-point shooting percentage of 36.8%. He has excellent shooting ability, can open up offensive space for the team, and can also actively compete for rebounds and block opponents on the defensive end.

center is Shin Kyung. The "king of centers in the European Championship" played 70 games last season, averaging 31.2 minutes per game, scoring 19.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, 5 assists and 1.1 blocks, with a shooting percentage of 49.4%. He has comprehensive skills, excellent offensive ability at low posts, and has certain support capabilities. He is the core of the Rockets' inside line. Reed Shepard and Aaron Holiday can provide fire support on point guard. Shepard played 52 games in the regular season last season, averaging 12.6 minutes per game, scoring 4.4 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists, and a three-point shooting percentage of 33.8%. Holiday is experienced and has a stable three-point shooting, and can stabilize the situation for the team when he comes on the bench. There are also Finney Smith, Capela and others on the front line. Finney Smith has a tough defense and has a certain accuracy in three-pointers; Capela is a basket-protecting player in the inside, good at grabbing rebounds and eating cakes.

Although Van Jordan's injury is a huge blow, the Rockets' lineup is still strong in the new season. The starting lineup is both offensive and defensive, and the bench also has enough depth and firepower. As long as the players remain healthy, young players continue to grow, and the coaches reasonably allocate tactics, the Rockets still have the strength to attack the championship. In the fiercely competitive NBA arena, everything is possible. The Rockets' road to winning the championship may be more difficult, but it is also full of more expectations and surprises.