Inside The Rockets

Reed Sheppard Developing While Rockets Contend

Houston Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard is having an unusual experience for a No. 3 overall pick.

Jeremy Brener

Nov 23, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (15) reacts to making a three point basket against the Portland Trail Blazers in the second quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Nov 23, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (15) reacts to making a three point basket against the Portland Trail Blazers in the second quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images / Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
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Houston Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard isn't having the same experience as many of his fellow first-year players.

The No. 3 overall pick out of Kentucky is playing just under 12 minutes per game, mainly because the Rockets have eight men ahead of him in a rotation that has been healthy and successful to start the season.

"Out of 14 Rockets to play at least 30 minutes this season, Sheppard is the only one who did not finish last season in Houston. Sheppard, the third pick in the draft out of Kentucky, was the first American player and the first guard selected. He is getting a long leash to figure things out, but Sunday’s win against the Thunder was actually the first time in Sheppard’s 21-game NBA career that he attempted a free throw. I had been sitting on that one for a while — Sheppard’s first 20 NBA games resulted in a mustache and zero free-throw attempts! Yes, the Rockets are rapidly ascending. But they still have real room for improvement, and Sheppard figuring out how to score at the NBA level is part of it," The Athletic's Law Murray writes.

Even though the Rockets are competing for one of the top spots in the Western Conference, they still value Sheppard as an asset and prospect that can emerge into a really good player down the line.

He needs reps in order to get him going, and that could take some time for him to fully realize his potential. However, the Rockets know they have a strong player in Sheppard, so they are willing to be patient with him as he grows within the organization.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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