Here it comes! Possible comeback revealed! This could be the Rockets' fourth star.

Good news.

Insider Stein: The Rockets have not fully excluded the possibility of VanVleet returning this season.

Before this season began, VanVleet suffered an unexpected right ACL tear and last summer re-signed with the Rockets on a two-year, $50 million deal.

As the 2019 championship point guard, he has always been a vital part of the Rockets' backcourt. Last regular season, he averaged 14.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, shooting 34.5% from beyond the arc with 2.7 three-pointers made per game; in the playoffs, he averaged 18.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1 steal per game, hitting 43.5% from three with 3.9 made threes per game.

Without VanVleet, the Rockets currently hold a 21-11 record, ranking fifth in the Western Conference. They average 120 points per game (fifth in the league), allow 111.4 points (third), grab 48.8 rebounds (first), have an offensive efficiency of 121.2 (third), and a defensive efficiency of 112.5 (sixth), leading in many key statistics. However, their average assists per game at 25.7 rank only 18th in the league.

This highlights VanVleet's value to the Rockets. Although not the most talented or dominant player on the team, as the backcourt cornerstone, he is indispensable. Every strong team needs someone to orchestrate and control the game, and his status is second only to, or on par with, Durant, Amen, and Sengun.

During VanVleet's injury absence, Amen, originally a wing guard, stepped up as the Rockets' new starting point guard. So far, he has played 36.7 minutes per game, contributing 18 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.5 turnovers, and 1.4 steals, with shooting percentages of 51.7% and 19.7%. Both his scoring and assist averages are career highs.

In summary, if VanVleet can truly return this season, there is no doubt he will strengthen the Rockets' confidence in their championship pursuit. At full strength, their roster on paper can challenge any top team, even the reigning champions, the Thunder.

Currently, the top three teams in the Western Conference are the Thunder at 30-6, the Spurs at 25-10, and the Lakers at 22-11, while the injury-hit Nuggets sit fourth with a 23-12 record.