Death before victory is achieved is a common theme for heroes! The NBA season is long, and every championship contender must strive to stay healthy. As the saying goes, "last man standing prevails!" Last season, for example, the Bucks were eliminated in the first round, the defending champion Celtics were eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals, and the Pacers lost in the Finals. This was directly related to Lillard, Tatum, and Haliburton suffering devastating injuries that ended their seasons early. Meanwhile, the championship-winning Thunder's youth and health were key to their victory! With the new season approaching, the Rockets were considered the Thunder's biggest rival in their title defense, but they suffered a devastating blow, casting a shadow over their championship hopes.

Just today, NBA reporter Shams Shams reported that Rockets guard Van Jordan suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament rupture. Sports medicine expert Evan Jeffries noted that this type of injury typically takes 9-12 months to recover from, meaning Van Jordan is out for the season early. In recent times, Van Jordan has frequently updated his social media with training photos and videos, including running, strength training, and conditioning workouts, all with such intensity that one can't help but give a thumbs-up. This unexpected injury came as a complete surprise! According to Rockets reporter Kelly Iko, sources revealed that Van Jordan was injured during a mini-camp in the Bahamas. The Bahamas boasts beautiful scenery and a pleasant climate, and the Rockets have been holding mini-camps there since the Harden era, allowing them to relax and build team-building for the upcoming season. Van Jordan's serious injury is truly unfortunate.

Van Jordan was a starting guard and undisputed locker room leader during the Rockets' rise, possessing both skill and experience. Last season, Van Jordan played in 60 games for the Rockets, averaging 14.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 2.7 three-pointers. In the seven playoff games, Van Jordan averaged 18.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1 steal, and 3.9 three-pointers, shooting 43.5% from three-point range. The Rockets are young and inexperienced, their offense is inconsistent, and they lack a clutch scorer, precisely Van Jordan's strengths. He is an essential piece to the Rockets' future championship run. Therefore, as NBA reporter Shams Shams noted, Van Jordan's serious injury is a devastating blow to the Rockets.

During this offseason, Van Jordan opted out of his $44.9 million player option, the final year, and re-signed with the Rockets for a two-year, $50 million player option. His salary for the new season is only $25 million, with a $25 million player option for the 2026-2027 season. Van Jordan's significant salary reduction to renew his contract with the Rockets has furthered the Rockets' championship hopes. However, as fate would have it, Van Jordan's sudden and serious injury caught the Rockets off guard. According to recent reports from US media, Van Jordan will undergo surgery this week, and Sheppard and Amen are expected to receive increased playing time and responsibility at point guard. Sheppard and Amen may have future prospects, but they're still too young to be the starting point guards for a championship team. The Rockets should probably look for a replacement for Van Jordan.

NBA salary expert Bobby Marks pointed out: The Rockets can apply for a $14.1 million injury exception, but their total salary ($194.7 million) is only $1.25 million shy of the top-tier salary cap ($195.9 million). Due to the cap limit, if the Rockets don't trade, even if they receive the injury exception, they won't be able to fill roster gaps with free agents! Time is short, and the task is daunting. The Rockets need to assess the situation. Durant needs help in his championship bid. Westbrook may be the best replacement for Van Jordan—he's a longtime acquaintance of Durant and Adams, and his fighting spirit and drive are perfectly suited to Udoka's liking. The Rockets can easily free up a roster spot and sign Westbrook on a minimum contract without making a major move, allowing Dewey and Westbrook to rekindle their former team-mates and compete for the championship!

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