Tag: Reed Sheppard

ESPN comments on Summer League performances of two former Wildcats

ESPN analysts discussed the NBA Summer League and some former Wildcats were mentioned.

Kentucky basketball had 11 former players performing in the 2024 NBA Summer League, including all three who were drafted this year. With the action winding down in Las Vegas, several ESPN analysts discussed some of what they saw.

Reed Sheppard was heavily praised by the group. Tim Bontemps called him the biggest surprise of the Summer League, saying:

From the start of summer league, Reed Sheppard looked the part. I was high on Sheppard’s potential during the draft process, and he showed with his play in Las Vegas why the Rockets should be very excited about his future in Houston — where he could be a perfect fit alongside Amen Thompson as a long-term backcourt tandem. If it weren’t for the crowded Houston roster and rotation, he would be my clear pick for Rookie of the Year.

When asked which rookie would have the biggest impact on their team, they were nearly unanimous in saying Sheppard.

Related: ChatGPT ranks ten best Kentucky basketball players

On the other end, Jeremy Woo mentioned Rob Dillingham as a disappointment. He said:

Timberwolves No. 8 pick Rob Dillingham struggled a bit with efficiency. He looked uncomfortable at times, which could be a result of the on-court inactivity due to injury seen in his pre-draft process. With his lack of physical strength at this stage, he doesn’t have a lot of margin for error.

Big Blue Nation had plenty of players to root for over the past few weeks, with some old favorites getting playing time. Next up, the regular season, and seeing how the Summer League performances translate.

Rockets’ Sheppard, Heat’s Ware headline NBA All-Summer League first team

Rockets guard Reed Sheppard and Heat center Kel’el Ware headlined the players named to the 2024 NBA All-Summer League first team.

Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard and Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware headlined the players named to the 2024 NBA All-Summer League first team on Monday.

Sheppard averaged 20 points, 5.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 1.3 blocked shots on 50% shooting from the field in four games in Las Vegas, Nevada. The third pick finished ninth in scoring among players with at least two appearances.

Ware is averaging 17.4 points, eight rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.2 assists on 58.6% shooting from the field in five games. He has registered three double-doubles, and he has one game left to play on Monday in the summer league championship.

Joining Sheppard and Ware on the NBA All-Summer League first team were Memphis Grizzlies guards GG Jackson II (20.8 points, 8.4 rebounds) and Scotty Pippen Jr. (20 points), and LA Clippers guard Jordan Miller (25.4 points).

On the second team: Washington Wizards guard Carlton Carrington (15.8 points, 7.4 rebounds), Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan (nine points, 12.3 rebounds), Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (18 points) and Brooklyn Nets guard Jalen Wilson (21.8 points).

Wilson was named the Most Valuable Player.

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NBA names Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard to All-Summer League First Team

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.

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ESPN’s Tim Legler sees ‘big-time player’ in Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard

ESPN’s Tim Legler on Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard: “He is a big-time player, and he’s gonna be a big-time starting point guard in the league for a long time.”

Earlier this week, ESPN analyst Tim Legler served as television analyst for an NBA summer-league game between the Rockets and Wizards. In that game, rookie guard Reed Sheppard was a clear standout as Houston routed Washington in an emphatic victory.

A few days later, Legler reflected on that experience from Las Vegas as part of his latest episode of The ALL NBA Podcast.

Regarding Sheppard, the No. 3 overall draft pick of the 2024 first round, Legler said (hat tip Chris Gorman, X):

I got to call a game of his, and I got to really see him up close.

He’s the real deal, man. They got themselves a player. He is a big-time player, and he’s gonna be a big-time starting point guard in the league for a long time, because can do it every which way.

He can make plays off the dribble for other people. He has got a nice float game. Deep range. He shot a ridiculous percentage in college on NBA-distance 3s, over 50%. He is strong, he’s good defensively. Laterally, his footwork, his active hands…

This guy has got the whole package. He’s quick, he’s athletic, he’s smart, he’s tough. He makes plays with his passing, and every kind of shot imaginable on the court. I was very, very impressed with Reed Sheppard, and I think he’s going to have a great career.

Extended audio clips of Legler’s podcast comments on Sheppard are available below. A former player himself, Legler won the NBA’s annual 3-point contest at its 1996 All-Star weekend.

As for Sheppard, in four games from Las Vegas, he’s averaging 20.0 points (50.0% FG), 5.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.8 steals — though he is averaging a team-high 4.8 turnovers, as well. He’ll finish up summer-league play Sunday when Houston faces Portland.

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Rockets to finish 2024 summer league schedule versus Portland on Sunday

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.

Sunday’s Rockets-Trail Blazers game is scheduled to tip off at 8:00 p.m. Central, and it will be broadcast nationally on NBA TV.

As was the case Thursday versus Minnesota, Cam Whitmore is expected to sit out after playing the first three games. However, the remainder of Houston’s summer-league roster should be available.

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As summer league continues, should Rockets keep playing Reed Sheppard and Cam Whitmore?

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.

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.

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Reed Sheppard focused on growth, teammates with summer Rockets

“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.”

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3-time All-Star Trae Young shows love to Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard

For the second time in as many games, rookie Reed Sheppard put up a sensational performance to help lead the Rockets to a win.

For the second time in as many games, rookie Reed Sheppard put up a sensational performance to help lead the Houston Rockets to a win on Sunday in the NBA Summer League.

Sheppard produced 22 points, seven assists, six rebounds, five steals and one blocked shot in a 109-91 win over the Washington Wizards in Las Vegas, Nevada. He went 9-of-15 from the field, including 1-of-5 from 3-point range, in 32 minutes.

The third pick dazzled those on hand watching at the Thomas & Mack Center and even those watching elsewhere. The performance earned a shout-out from three-time All-Star Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Sheppard once again got to his spots well to knock down open shots on the court. He was active in the passing lanes to pick off five passes, which helped lead fastbreak opportunities for the Rockets (2-0), who held a 26-17 advantage in that department.

The 20-year-old debuted with the Rockets on Friday in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers, recording 23 points, five assists, four rebounds, three blocked shots and one steal. He went 9-of-17 from the field, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, in 30 minutes.

Sheppard has looked to be the best rookie on the court through two games and is proving himself as a high draft pick. With at least three games left to play, Sheppard will have the chance to continue to adjust to the increased competition level and impress in the desert.

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Trae Young, Ja Morant impressed by summer brilliance of Rockets’ Reed Sheppard

Grizzlies star Ja Morant and Hawks star Trae Young are among those taking notice of Reed Sheppard’s brilliant summer play for the Rockets.

Through two NBA summer-league games, rookie guard Reed Sheppard has been sensational for the Houston Rockets.

After being drafted at No. 3 in the 2024 first round in June, Sheppard is currently averaging 22.5 points, 6.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals, and 2.0 blocks in 31.0 minutes per game — all while shooting better than 55% from the field and 45% on 3-pointers.

Most importantly, the numbers have contributed to winning for the Rockets, who are 2-0 with a pair of dominant 18-point victories.

Beyond earning praise from media members and fans, Sheppard also appears to be turning heads from players within the league.

Trae Young and Ja Morant — recent All-Star guards with the Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies, respectively — addressed Sheppard’s play with social media posts on X during Sunday’s game.

Young posted: “Reed Sheppard nice, y’all!”

Morant then quoted Young’s post with multiple exclamation points.

Complete highlights of Sheppard’s latest showing are available below. As for the summer Rockets, they will look to continue their unbeaten run when they face the Detroit Pistons on Monday afternoon.

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Rockets’ Reed Sheppard put on a show in Las Vegas Summer League debut

In front of a packed house, Reed Sheppard put on a dazzling performance to lead the Rockets to a win over the Lakers in Las Vegas.

In front of a packed house at the Thomas & Mack Center, Reed Sheppard put on a dazzling performance to lead the Houston Rockets to a win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sheppard produced a team-high 23 points, five assists, four rebounds, three blocked shots and one steal in the 99-80 victory. He went 9-of-17 from the field, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, in 30 minutes of action in his debut on Friday.

The third pick connected from well behind the arc on several of his 3-point attempts, including a couple of shots from the logo. He also had perhaps the highlight of the game after putting first-round pick Dalton Knecht on skates to get open for a floater.

Rockets coach Ime Udoka approved of his performance.

“I like his all-around game, his IQ,” Udoka told ESPN. “Obviously, the shooting stands out, but he is very competitive (and) has a high IQ. I talk about his parents all of the time, his background and what he has been taught his whole career and his life so far. I love what he is doing today.”

With Sheppard leading the way, the Rockets also got strong performances from second-year forward Cam Whitmore (20 points, 10 rebounds) and Nate Williams (17 points, six rebounds). They led most of the game and went up by as many as 23 points in the fourth quarter.

Sheppard showcased himself at a high level and looked to be the best player on the court for much of the game. He shot the ball with extreme confidence and had no issue getting to his spots in the mid-range and the paint for open looks.

After working on his game for much of the offseason, Sheppard was excited to finally showcase it in a competitive game setting. He will be looking to keep it going when the Rockets return to action on Sunday against the Washington Wizards (6 p.m. EDT, ESPN2).

“You get in the gym and you don’t get to play in a game, so you go in and have to work on your game a little bit,” Sheppard said, via Locked on Rockets. “Being able to do that and showcase it in a game is what you work for. You work to be able to play in games, so being able to do that was a lot of fun.”

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