Reed Sheppard reveals goals for Las Vegas Summer League debut
Reed Sheppard is excited to begin his NBA career. Ahead of his Las Vegas Summer League debut against the Los Angeles Lakers, Sheppard pulled back the curtain on what he hopes to accomplish.
“I think just being an all-around player and doing whatever it takes to win and just helping my teammates get open shots — just being the best player I can be,” Sheppard said. “It’s been a lot of fun. The biggest thing has been the pace and the spacing. But, you got great players around you and great coaches that make everything easier. So just being out here and playing has been a lot of fun so far.”
Sheppard has never failed to be an all-around player in the past. In his lone season with at Kentucky, Sheppard averaged 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game while shooting 53.6% from the floor and 51.1% from beyond the arc, the most accurate single-season 3-point percentage in program history.
While Sheppard wowed NBA scouts with his perimeter skills, he also showed off his will to win. In Kentucky’s 91-89 win over Mississippi State, Sheppard erupted for a career-high 32 points and drained a gutsy game-winning floater.
For his efforts, he was named the SEC Freshman of the Year, an All-SEC Second Team member and the National Association of Basketball Coaches National Freshman of the Year.
NBA experts have high expectations for Reed Sheppard
The Houston Rockets selected Sheppard with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Ahead of the draft, On3’s James Fletcher III provided an in-depth analysis of Sheppard’s game.
“Reed Sheppard is likely the best shooter in the NBA Draft this year, knocking down 52.1% on 4.4 attempts per game,” Fletcher III wrote. “The ability to also contribute as a playmaker and rebounder gives him one of the highest floors.
“In addition to the 6-foot-3 guard’s established offensive impact, he is an intriguing defensive prospect. He boasts great numbers while often gambling for steals. This approach could look drastically different based on the defenders he plays with in the NBA.”
Fletcher wasn’t alone in his praise. RotoWire also spoke highly of Sheppard ahead of the draft.
“Sheppard is a fantastic catch-and-shoot player who can create his own shot at times and is a willing passer. He has elite defensive instincts, which allows him to jump passing lanes and poke the ball away from opposing ballhandlers, but he needs to get stronger before being considered a solid NBA defender.”