The Houston Rockets just suffered a devastating blow when they lost Fred VanVleet to injury.
Sadly, the bad news keeps coming for the team, because they could also be without Dorian Finney-Smith when the season kicks off in a few weeks.
Finney-Smith is not expected to be available for the season opener due to his recovery from ankle surgery.
Dorian Finney-Smith is not expected to be available for the Rockets season opener after undergoing ankle surgery this summer.
(via @danielle_lerner, https://t.co/WEY1aJoWVr) pic.twitter.com/3CLrl9CW2J
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) October 1, 2025
Finney-Smith needed the surgery after a persistent issue that had been bothering him for years.
He spent the last few seasons with the Brooklyn Nets and then the Los Angeles Lakers, playing through the injury and sadly making it worse.
Back in June, he was finally able to get his surgery, but the recovery process didn’t move quickly.
He hasn’t completely written off the idea of being in the season opener on October 21, but right now it seems unlikely.
Finney-Smith said that he has been running and will be ready for the court soon, but there hasn’t been a definitive timeline released by the team.
He is a big part of Houston’s plans, and they view him as someone who can assist with shooting from beyond the arc.
Last season, they had one of the league’s worst three-point shooting percentages, and they want Finney-Smith to help change that.
He may still do that, but it might not happen until a few weeks into the new season.
The Rockets luckily have options outside of Finney-Smith, but they still want him back as soon as possible.
The surgery is done, the recovery will continue, and the Rockets are now patiently waiting for Finney-Smith to be ready for the season.
NEXT: Kevin Durant Sends 4-Word Message Ahead Of 19th Season
