Is Reed Sheppard playing vs Portland Trail Blazers? Latest on Rockets point guard's status for Summer League game (July 21)
The NBA Summer League offers fans a chance to see the game's future stars in action and few have been as energetic and exciting as Reed Sheppard. The Houston Rockets guard has started every game so far, averaging 33 minutes per game. He will suit up and take the court once again on Monday night against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Pavilion in Las Vegas.
Sheppard has consistently featured in the Rockets' lineup and is making a strong case to be a day-to-day role player on the regular season roster. The 20-year-old is showing a maturity well beyond his years and has contributed in all facets of the game.
Sheppard is averaging 20 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.8 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. He is shooting an impressive 50 percent from the field and 28 percent from behind the arc.
The Houston Rockets (2-2) will face the Portland Trail Blazers (2-2) in the final game of their Summer League Campaign in Las Vegas on Sunday, July 21. The game is set to tipoff at 9:00 p.m. EST at the Pavilion.
Reed Sheppard proving his doubters wrong with a series of strong performances in the NBA Summer League
There were a lof of questions about Reed Sheppard's height and frame when the Rockets selected him with the no. 3 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. At 6-foot-2, 182 pounds, Sheppard is not an imposing figure on the court. Many critics were not sure whether his success at the college level would translate over to the pros.
Sheppard has promptly quelled any doubts about his abilities on the court with a series of strong outings at the Summer League.
The young Kentucky native has scored 20 or more points in three of his last four games. His standout performance of the summer came in a 109-91 victory over the Washington Wizards. Sheppard finished the night with 22 points, six rebounds, seven assists, five steals and a block.
Perhaps the most impressive feature of Sheppard's game is his versatility. Sheppard is not just a sharpshooter with a quick release. He has shown that he can come up with boards, get his teammates involved, and contribute on the defensive end with steals and blocks.
The Houston Rockets have missed out on the playoffs for four straight seasons and won more than 22 games just once in that stretch. With talented young prospects like Reed Sheppard and Cam Whitmore (both players have impressed at the Summer League) on the roster, expect this team to make a splash in the Western Conference next season.