Last season, as he saw himself going back and forth from the G-League and sparingly seeing the court in the NBA, it was clear that the 2024-2025 Houston Rockets and Reed Sheppard were not on the same timeline. Reed did put up some impressive numbers in the Rio Grande Valley. In three games he averaged 30.7 points-per-game, 8.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game. Reed also started three games in the NBA. In those games he averaged 19.7 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds. including a career
high 25 points on 58 percent shooting from the field and 42.9 percent from three, against SGA and the OKC Thunder.
Reed had his fair share of issues last season as well. There is a reason his career averages are nowhere near as impressive as his are his handful of starts. In limited minutes Sheppard has struggled to find consistency in his shooting. Although he is shooting the ball much better this season, at times he has had issues dealing with pressure when he is the primary ball handler. However, the glimpses of brilliance we have seen from Sheppard were enough to keep Rockets fans hopeful that he would be ready to take a big leap in his sophomore season.
Through 11 games this year, he has certainly taken a leap, though it is a small sample size. In 22.4 minutes per-game Reed Sheppard is averaging 12.3 points-per-game on 48.5 percent shooting from the field, including 47.7 percent from the three-point line. His last five games have been especially impressive. According to Bradeaux of the Rockets collective, prior to last night’s NBA Cup game, Reed Sheppard is now the youngest guard in NBA History to record four straight double-digit scoring games with an 80.0 TS% or higher.
Reed was slightly less efficient in 26 minutes against the Trail Blazers, but his impact was big. 13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and of the Rockets 16 steals in the game, Reed Sheppard accounted for a quarter of them. With every game that passes, his confidence grows more and more. What is even more noticeable is how much faith his teammates have in him. As he dove on the floor to secure his fourth steal of the game, the entire team from the players on the court to the bench were fired up and getting Reed fired up in the process. Reed even hooked us up with some white guy dance moves after hitting his third three-pointer of the game. Dude is feelin’ himself, and more importantly his teammates and coaches are feeling him too.
Rockets GM Raphael Stone at the time that Reed was drafted said that they believed he was the best player in the draft. There is a lot of basketball left to be played, both this season and for the rest of Reed Sheppard’s career, but he is off to good start of proving Stone right. Which brings up the million-dollar question. Do the Rockets need to be looking to acquire a point-guard when the trade deadline approaches? There has been much talk on social media that the Rockets should be looking to acquire a veteran point-guard via trade once they are eligible to make trades on December 15, even if it means including Sheppard in the deal.
From Jrue Holiday rumors to Kyrie Irving, there seems to be some who just don’t see Reed Sheppard as the answer for this team. I’m here to step out on a ledge and tell those people, you’re wrong. Reed Sheppard has done nothing but improve since the day he first suited up for the Rockets. He has the perfect attitude for a young man trying to find his place in this league. He’s not out there trying to take over games trying to prove he was worthy of being the number three overall pick. He never complained about not getting playing time in his rookie season or being sent to the G-League. He just put his head down, went to work, and it’s beginning to pay off.
There is no trade scenario for a guard the caliber of Holiday or Irving that doesn’t compromise the core and the future of this franchise, and I believe fortunately the GM and Head Coach recognize that. I’ve said many times that Reed Sheppard’s game reminds me of Chris Paul. He has begun to draw comparisons to John Stockton as well. I’m not saying he will be either of those, and honestly, the Rockets don’t need him to be that good. Setting the bar at being a top 75 Hall-of-Fame player is a bit much.
The Rockets just need Sheppard to be the best version of himself. Making smart plays with the basketball, not turning the ball over, being aggressive hunting his shots, and knocking those shots down. This isn’t a Jalen Green situation. You have time to let Reed Sheppard develop into a quality role player at this stage in his career, with the possibility that he develops into your point-guard of the future. Patience is a lost virtue I know but, look at what Reed has already done in just 11 games. It’s working. Sit back and enjoy it! The Rockets are young and deep. The sky truly is the limit for them and for Reed Sheppard.
