LAS VEGAS — No. 3 NBA draft pick Reed Shepard was one of the best players on the court Friday night in his first summer league game. The former Kentucky guard led the Rockets to a 99-80 win over Bronny James and the Lakers with 23 points, five assists, four rebounds and three blocks, a performance that strongly suggested Shepard could be one of the best players in his draft class.
“It was a really fun game and a great atmosphere,” Sheppard said Friday night. “We had a really good practice week. At first it was just getting into the rhythm and shaking off the nerves, but as the game went on I got more relaxed.”
Shepard’s second game on Sunday was just as impressive as his first. The Rockets faced off against the Wizards, featuring No. 2 pick Alex Sarr and No. 14 pick Bub Carrington. Carrington came close to a triple-double in his first game with 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Sunday’s game was billed as a solid guard matchup, and both Shepard and Carrington were active early on. Carrington’s shooting was spotty, but he still managed 18 points and five assists in a 109-91 loss. Shepard had another impressive performance, finishing with 22 points, seven assists, six rebounds and five steals and looking like a veteran.
When Sheppard’s shots weren’t falling early, he found ways to get to the rim or draw the defense for an easy kickout 3-pointer. In the second half, he found Cam Whitmore on a backdoor cut in a half-court set, drawing a roar from the crowd.
In just two games, he’s very comfortable with NBA space, playing with patience and speed. Defensively, he’s recovering off switches, deflecting passes and getting blocks. It’s still early, but even the NBA’s best guards are starting to see his potential. Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young posted an X during Sunday’s game, praising him: “Reed Shepard, nice u all!!” And three of Shepard’s future Rockets teammates, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tali Eason, watched the game from the baseline at the Thomas & Mack Center and were highly impressed.
“He’s so good, I don’t know what to say about him,” Thompson told Yahoo Sports about Shepard. “He’s a guy that always makes the right play. He can pass well, he can shoot well, he can defend well. I’m excited about it.”
Shepard has the potential to be more than just a central figure on the team or a lead guard for the secondary unit — he could eventually become a franchise starting guard given his hot play and exceptional versatility on both ends of the court.
“The biggest thing for him is getting more comfortable on the court,” Rockets summer league head coach Garrett Jackson said after the game. “I know he’s a good player and he’s confident, but especially with a rookie, once he gets comfortable on the court, everything else falls into place after that. I’m happy that that’s going to happen sooner rather than later.”
Shepard’s role was very different during his freshman year at Kentucky. He came off the bench and played more off-ball alongside Rob Dillingham (drafted 8th overall by the Timberwolves). Shepard shot very well, attempting nearly four 3-pointers per game and hitting 52.1% of them, and led the team in assists with 4.5 per game. His playmaking and off-ball movement were not as polished as they were in the first few Summer League games, and he credited his teammates and space for giving him more freedom.
“I just take what’s given to me on each play,” Sheppard said. “We have a lot of good players on this team that can spread the floor and that creates opportunities for me. It’s all about making the right basketball plays. If I’m open, I take the shot. If I’m not, I go on the offensive and get someone else open. I just trust my teammates and make the right basketball plays.”
This season marks Whitmore’s second with the Rockets, after he was named the 2023 Summer League MVP last year. The 6-foot-7 wing has been arguably one of the best players in Summer League this season and has found early chemistry with Shepard. Whitmore is averaging 22.5 points through the first two games, repeatedly sidelining Shepard to show Whitmore what he sees both offensively and defensively.
“I’m really excited to play with Reid and see what he can do on the court,” Whitmore said. “He can do it all, really, defensively. He’s not the tallest guy at 6-foot-1, 6-foot-2, but he can steal, he can get in gaps, he can get in passing lanes, he can block. It’s going to be fun playing with him.”
Summer League is always a chance to evaluate rookies and see how they perform in their first experience in the NBA. League executives and scouts look at other teams to see which teams were successful in acquiring certain prospects and which were not. After two games, it’s safe to say the Rockets got a good deal out of Shepard, who has proven himself to be a player who can step in and contribute in his first year.
