While at summer league in Las Vegas, Rockets guard Reed Sheppard took part in the NBA’s official photo shoot for its 2024 rookie class.
For a third consecutive year, the Rockets are represented on the NBA’s All-Summer League First Team. In the NBA 2K25 edition for July 2024 games, it’s rookie guard Reed Sheppard. who follows in the footsteps of Cam Whitmore (2023 MVP) and Tari Eason (2022).
Sheppard, the No. 3 overall draft pick from the 2024 first round, averaged a team-high 20.0 points (50.0% shooting), 5.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.8 steals in four games from Las Vegas. For Houston fans, those summer-league performances further justified the hype for the Kentucky guard that grew throughout the pre-draft process.
While there, Sheppard took part in the NBA’s annual photo shoot for rookies on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) campus. Portraits were taken by Monica Schipper of Getty Images.
Courtesy of USA TODAY’s photo partnerships, here’s a selection of Sheppard’s official portraits from that July 2024 event. Numerous other first-round rookies on other teams took part, as well, with those photos available by searching various photography wire services.
For a third straight season, the Rockets have a representative on the NBA’s All-Summer League First Team. This year, it’s Reed Sheppard.
For a third straight year, the Houston Rockets have a representative on the NBA’s All-Summer League First Team. In the NBA 2K25 edition for games in July 2024, it’s rookie guard Reed Sheppard.
Sheppard, the No. 3 overall draft pick from the 2024 first round, averaged a team-high 20.0 points (50.0% shooting), 5.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.8 steals in four games from Las Vegas.
Other first-team members include Kel’el Ware of the Miami Heat; Jordan Miller of the Los Angeles Clippers; and Scottie Pippen Jr. and GG Jackson II of the Memphis Grizzlies. Jalen Wilson, now with the Brooklyn Nets, was named Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Sheppard’s 2024 summer-league teammate, Cam Whitmore, was a first-team member and MVP in 2023. This year, Whitmore was limited by the Rockets to only three games. A year earlier, Tari Eason was named to the NBA’s 2022 All-Summer League First Team.
Sheppard, Whitmore, and Eason will all compete for minutes with the 2024-25 Rockets when training camp opens in late September.
Catch all of the NBA Summer League season and watch the basketball stars of the future.
NBA Summer League action is winding down and we’re left with the last few games of the tournament.
Sunday brings two semifinals from Las Vegas as the Memphis Grizzlies take on the Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors battle the Miami Heat.
The four remaining teams are the only undefeated teams left in Las Vegas, but only one can be crowned the champions of the 2024 NBA Summer League.
How to watch Grizzlies vs. Clippers Summer League playoff semifinals
The first semifinal features the 4-0 Grizzlies against the 4-0 Cliippers. Zach Edey, Memphis’ first round pick was injured in the team’s last game and is unlikely to play against the Clippers.
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How to watch Warriors vs. Heat Summer League playoff semifinals
The second semifinal features the 4-0 Warriors against the 4-0 Heat. Brandin Podziemski has been the best players so far this summer for the Warriors, while Jaime Jaquez Jr. has been arguably the best player in the entire NBA 2K25 Summer League.
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When is the NBA Summer League Finals?
The NBA Summer League Finals will be played on Monday, July 22 at 9:00 p.m. EDT.
Where to watch NBA Summer League Playoffs?
The NBA Summer League playoffs will air on exclusively on ESPN. Every game is available on Fubo with a subscription.
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Sunday’s matchup versus Donovan Clingan and the Trail Blazers will be the summer-league finale for Reed Sheppard and the Rockets.
Unlike 2023, when the Rockets won all four of their initial NBA summer-league games and advanced to the four-team semifinals, Houston (2-2) split its first four Las Vegas contests in 2024.
That means that Reed Sheppard and the 2024 summer Rockets are among the 26 teams effectively playing a consolation game this weekend as they wrap up the standard five-game summer slate.
Because the league did not know the four teams advancing to the semifinals until after each team’s first four games were complete, the NBA could not preemptively schedule each team’s fifth game.
But with four games in the books for each team across summer league, the league can proceed with its scheduling process.
With Sheppard in a starring role, Houston will wrap up its summer-league play on Sunday versus the Trail Blazers (2-2). Among rookies, it should be a showdown of Sheppard versus Portland center Donovan Clingan, drafted at No. 7 overall in the 2024 first round. Sheppard, of course, was drafted by the Rockets four picks earlier.
🗓️ Here’s the schedule for #NBA2KSummerLeague action on Sunday, July 21st.
As 2024 summer league continues, the Rockets will need to decide whether it’s worth it to continue playing Reed Sheppard and Cam Whitmore.
Having never been a general manager or head coach of an NBA franchise, my opinion doesn’t carry much weight regarding the decisions made by the Houston Rockets during summer-league play.
Yet, if I did have the chance to talk to Rafael Stone or Ime Udoka, I would offer them advice about the playing time of rookie guard Reed Sheppard and second-year player Cam Whitmore heading into Thursday’s matchup versus the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“Shut them down,” I would say as loud as I could. It could be a similar template to 2023, when talented second-year prospects Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason played the first two games at summer league before watching the remaining games from the sidelines.
In 2024, even though the Rockets (2-1) are still in contention to make the summer-league playoffs and perhaps return to the championship game, Sheppard and Whitmore have already proven to have chemistry together. That was one of the main reasons they were paired together in Las Vegas, as they have the potential to play together on Houston’s bench unit during the 2024-25 season.
Cam Whitmore and Reed Sheppard did a little bit of everything in their second #NBA2KSummerLeague game combining for 47 PTS & 10 STL leading the @HoustonRockets to victory!
The two did not perform at their best in Monday’s 87-73 loss to the Detroit Pistons, when they combined to shoot 7-for-32 from the field and 0-for-7 from 3-point range. Some of their play could have been due to the fatigue of playing back-to-back games, but they have displayed enough in the three games played for Stone and Udoka to get a sense of how to plan the rotation heading into training camp.
Some might say that Sheppard, the No. 3 overall selection in the 2024 NBA draft, could benefit from getting more reps against NBA competition. But, why take the chance of Sheppard getting injured (remember, Amen Thompson sprained his ankle in summer league a year ago) when his 3-point shooting and high basketball IQ could be valuable to the Rockets during the upcoming regular season?
In his lone collegiate season at Kentucky, Sheppard led the nation in 3-point shooting percentage (52.1%) on his way to being named the 2023-24 National Association of Basketball Coaches National Freshman of the Year. It’s a skill that could be useful to the Rockets, who were among the NBA’s 10 worst teams in 3-point accuracy last season, and that might prompt them to be cautious at summer league.
“Keep getting in the gym and keep building relationships with your teammates,” Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard says of his summer-league priorities.
Two games into the NBA’s 2024 summer league in Las Vegas, Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard is already showing why he’s a vital piece of Houston’s new formula for returning to the postseason.
At the moment, Sheppard is averaging 22.5 points per game, which ties 2023 summer-league MVP Cam Whitmore for Houston’s lead.
In that case, he can not only help the team reach its short-term goal of winning a summer-league title, but he may also give head coach Ime Udoka a better feel for where he fits in the rotation.
Sheppard, the Rockets’ No. 3 overall selection in this year’s draft, is taking it all in — one day at a time. He knows that the process will take time, so as of now, he is just taking it slowly and getting acclimated to playing against the NBA-level competition.
“At the end of the day, it’s basketball,” Sheppard said after helping his team improve to 2-0 by defeating Washington. “You get to go and play the game you love with really good players and teammates, and I am super pumped to get out there and play the game I love.”
One promising sign is the chemistry that Sheppard and Whitmore have established. Throughout Sunday’s game, the former Kentucky standout found Whitmore slashing to the basket for multiple dunks that brought the crowd to their feet. That included regular-season teammates Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson, seated baseline.
“It’s very exciting playing with Reed,” Whitmore told reporters after the 18-point victory. “He can do everything, even on the defensive end. Even though he is not the tallest, he still has skills; he can get in the gaps and can get in the passing lane. He can finish, play-make, he can shoot. He can do everything on the floor.”
The rookie’s performance is not going unnoticed on social media, with esteemed NBA veterans like Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks and Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies among those acknowledging Sheppard’s game on their social media platforms. Even with that type of attention, Sheppard remains focused on improving.
“Keep getting in the gym and keep building relationships with your teammates,” Sheppard said when asked about that praise. “Just stick to yourself. Don’t try to be anyone else or anyone.”
Bronny is the first 2024 NBA rookie to get a championship belt.
Major congratulations are in order for Bronny James, who is the biggest winner so far during NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
Let the apologies be as loud as the disrespect because Bronny, who was drafted No. 55 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers, just earned your respect. While many doubters called this draft pick one made entirely by nepotism, those same people look mighty foolish after his latest victory.
While father LeBron prepared for Olympic gold with Team USA, Bronny was carving his own path with his own impressive accomplishments. The rookie guard was crowned winner of the Call of Duty Modern Warfare III tournament at Encore Las Vegas, per The Sporting Tribune.
This is no small achievement from the former USC guard, who became the first rookie from this class to call himself a champion in the NBA.
James was given a “custom made Call of Duty Warzone championship belt” for his remarkable efforts, which is something that no other player from this rookie class can claim. Take a look at this hardware:
He was able to take down Grant Williams to win this belt. Williams, who is a former first-round pick, already has quite a few more years of professional NBA experience than James. He is also a few inches taller than the 6-foot-1 rookie, which feels significant.
Bronny and LeBron now (probably) have the most Call of Duty Warzone championship belts of any father-son duo in NBA history.
March Madness star Jack Gohlke officially made his NBA Summer League debut in style.
After winning over the basketball world during this year’s March Madness, former Oakland star Jack Gohlke scored his first 3-pointer in the NBA during Summer League competition on Tuesday night.
Gohlke is playing with the Oklahoma City Thunder this summer, trying to make his best impression on the organization to stick around for the future.
Although it came late in the Summer League contest against the Utah Jazz, Gohlke nailed a fantastic 3-pointer that reminded you of his March Madness heroics.
While we’re not sure just yet if Gohlke will be able to stick around with the Thunder on its G League team, it’s so cool to see him playing in the NBA in the first place after taking the spotlight this past March.
LeBron James was such a proud dad as he watched Bronny James score his first NBA Summer League bucket.
As he watched a clip of his son, Bronny James, play in his very first NBA Summer League Game on Saturday, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James couldn’t help but be proud of how Bronny was doing.
As he saw a highlight of Bronny James score his very first basket on a really smooth layup against the Sacramento Kings, James seemed very giddy and exclaimed his approval of how well his son did in notching that important milestone in his basketball career.
The NBA filming the elder James as he watched such a historic moment in Bronny James’ career was such a good call, as it highlights just how excited LeBron James is to watch his son play in the pros.
Bronny James scored his first points with the Lakers in style on Saturday.
During his very first offseason game with the Los Angeles Lakers during Saturday’s California Classic, rookie Bronny James got his first NBA bucket while wearing the purple and gold.
On a really neat play under the basket, James glided through a couple of Sacramento Kings defenders with ease to lay in the basketball for two points to get his team tied at 31 in the second quarter.
With all eyes on the son of LeBron James as he acclimated to life as an NBA player, this wasn’t a bad way for him to make his debut on the Lakers stat sheet for points.
