Possible Rookie of the Year? Reed Sheppard impresses again in second Summer League game

LAS VEGAS — Reed Sheppard, the No. 3 pick in the NBA Draft, was one of the best players on the court Friday night in his first Summer League game. The former Kentucky guard stole the show against Bronny James and the Lakers, finishing with 23 points, five assists, four rebounds and three blocks in the Rockets’ 99-80 win. That performance was a strong statement that Sheppard could be one of the best players in the draft class.

“It was a really fun game and great atmosphere,” Sheppard said Friday night. “We had a really good week of practice, and at first, it’s just getting into rhythm, shaking off the nerves, but as the game went on, I got more comfortable.”

Sheppard’s second game Sunday was just as impressive as his first. The Rockets squared off against the Wizards, featuring No. 2 pick Alex Sarr and No. 14 pick Bub Carrington. Carrington nearly had a triple-double in his first outing, finishing with 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Sunday’s game was billed as a solid guard matchup, and both Sheppard and Carrington went to work early. Carrington had a bit of a streaky shooting night, but still finished with 18 points and five assists in the 109-91 loss. Sheppard finished with another killer stat line and looked like a seasoned player, finishing with 22 points, seven assists, six rebounds and five steals.

When Sheppard’s shot wasn’t falling early, he found ways to get to the rim or draw the defense for easy kick-out 3s. In the second half, he found Cam Whitmore for a backdoor cut in a halfcourt set that drew loud cheers from the crowd.

In just two games, he’s looking extremely comfortable in NBA spacing, being patient and playing with a lot of pace. Defensively, he’s recovering off the switch, deflecting passes and getting blocks. It’s still early, but even some of the best guards in the NBA are noticing his potential. Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young posted on X during Sunday’s game, proclaiming, “Reed Sheppard nice y’all!!” And three of Sheppard’s future Rockets teammates — Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason — watched from the baseline in the Thomas & Mack Center and were more…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-07-15 03:04:28

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