A year ago, we were wondering how much playing time Reed Sheppard He earned his first prize at Kentucky. Today, the former Cat is one of the most remarkable players in the NBA Summer League, cementing his status as the best prospect in the draft.
You’ve probably seen Reed’s stats from his first two games. In his debut on Friday night, he scored 23 points (9-17 FG) and 5 assists in the Rockets’ win over the Lakers. Yesterday, Reed scored 22 points (9-15 FG), 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 5 steals and a block in a win over the Wizards. That’s an average of 22.5 points, 6.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game.
Neither Reed nor teammate among top ten in draft Rob Dillingham The New Orleans Cardinals had their true moment in college basketball glory after Kentucky was eliminated early from the NCAA Tournament. New eyes are watching them in Las Vegas and so far, they’re huge fans. Reed is making headlines as NBA fans learn the story of his legacy and see Jeff, Stacey, and Madison cheering him on in the stands.
The consensus so far? Reed Sheppard is already too good to play in Summer League. And why the hell didn’t he start at Kentucky? That last question will haunt some fans for a long time. Instead of torturing ourselves with what could have been, let’s look at the promising start to Reed’s next chapter, which continues tonight at 6:30 p.m. ET against Detroit (NBATV, ESPN+) — unless the Rockets decide to go ahead and neutralize him.
Here’s a summary of what everyone is saying about Reed this morning.
Sheppard is considered the top prospect in the draft
…After scoring 20-plus points just seven times in 33 games at Kentucky, Sheppard has already done so in each of his first two outings as a pro. Sheppard’s ability to go wherever he wants with the ball and create separation with a powerful crossover has stood out.
We already knew that Sheppard, who shot 52 percent from the varsity line, was a powerful shooter. He scored from 27 feet out in Sunday’s third quarter, in which Sheppard also had nine points on 4-of-6 shooting and a pair of assists.
On defense, Sheppard’s active hands consistently generate deflections. Sheppard had three blocks Friday and racked up two steals Sunday.
Sheppard joins a Houston roster loaded with starters Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet, as well as 2023 lottery pick Amen Thompson and veteran Aaron Holiday. However, if Sheppard’s play in Vegas so far is any indication, he’ll work his way to regular playing time as a rookie.
Offensively, Sheppard showed a maturity in his game that should propel him forward, not only for the remainder of summer league, but also for training camp and his regular season with the senior team. There were strong reminders of his days at Kentucky as a secondary playmaker, not wasting possessions and not being afraid, almost insisting on making an extra pass to give up a good shot for a better one. His shooting alone is something that is needed in spades in Houston, but his half-court intelligence could be just as necessary, especially in situations where Fred VanVleet or Alperen Şengün are on the bench.
On defense, the 6-foot-2 Sheppard also generated interest and optimism in his debut. One of his redeeming qualities at the college level was his penchant for creating turnovers in key moments. Throughout the predraft process, scouts, analysts and front office executives raved about his steal and block rates, despite his small frame as a freshman guard. But there were also doubts about whether that would transfer to the next level. There were times when his size worked against him Friday, but Sheppard has the size and speed of a defensive back and makes plays on the ball like one.
Reed Sheppard may already be too good for summer league.
At first glance, Sheppard looks like one of many Las Vegas game managers struggling to land their next contract. But in his first appearance in Summer League, the 20-year-old rookie already looked too good for the early July showcase. Sheppard, the No. 3 overall pick, immediately displayed a steely confidence and command of the Rockets’ offense, getting in the teeth of the defense with quick, decisive moves and making quick reads and crisp passes to the open man — often Cam Whitmore, the reigning Summer League MVP, who is still too big and athletic to compete. Sheppard’s lack of size will obviously raise questions, but he’s a surprisingly dynamic athlete (three blocks against the Lakers) and has an impressive defensive hand (five steals against the Wizards). Shooting will likely always be the calling card of a player who made more than half of his three-pointers in college (indeed, his shooting looks as smooth as you’d expect), but his shooting from deep has been seen as a bonus to his overall production and solid command of the game. Sheppard clearly has a place at the NBA level; the question now is how quickly he can outgrow a backup role on a deep Rockets team.
In just two games, he looks supremely comfortable in NBA spaces, being patient and playing with plenty of pace. Defensively, he recovers off the switch, deflects passes and gets blocks. It’s still early, but even some of the NBA’s top guards are noticing his potential. Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young posted on X during Sunday’s game, proclaiming, “Reed Sheppard is good!” And three of Sheppard’s future Rockets teammates — Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason — watched from the Thomas & Mack Center baseline and were more than impressed.
“He’s really good, I don’t even know what to say,” Thompson told Yahoo Sports of Sheppard. “He’s a guy who makes all the right plays. He’s a really good passer, he can shoot and he can defend. I’m excited.”
Sheppard has the potential to be more than just a backcourt player or a second-unit point guard. Sheppard could end up becoming a franchise starting point guard thanks to his quality play and immense versatility on both ends of the floor.
Trae Young and Ja Morant
As Peek mentioned, even NBA stars Trae Young and Ja Morant have taken notice, tweeting about Reed’s hot start to the season. The folks behind the NBA Twitter account caught up with Reed to get his reaction to the tweets and Young on the court for more impressions on the rookie.
“He’s got game. Game recognizes game. You have to show love, that’s why.”
Reed Sheppard’s NBA Summer League Highlights