Reed Sheppard has 2nd best odds to win 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year
Reed Sheppard has been lighting up the NBA Las Vegas Summer League through his first three games. So much so that folks are investing their hard-earned money into the former Kentucky Wildcat.
According to FanDuel, Sheppard currently holds the second-best odds to win the 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year award at +700. He trails only Grizzlies rookie center Zach Edey, who is at +600 after his own impressive Summer League debut back on July 8 when the 7-foot-4 big man recorded 14 points, 15 rebounds, and four blocks.
But Sheppard, who was taken No. 3 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets, has quickly increased his odds thanks to his on-court play over the last several days and is now right behind Edey.
The 2023-24 National Freshman of the Year has averaged 20 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, three steals, and 1.3 blocks in 32.8 minutes per outing in Sin City. He’s shooting 49 percent from the field, 38.5 percent from deep, and 77.8 percent from the free throw line.
Sheppard was particularly on fire during his first two Summer League games against the Lakers and Wizards. In his debut against the Lakers on July 12, the London, KY native finished with 23 points (9-17 FG), five assists, four rebounds, and three blocks in 30 minutes. Two days later against the Wizards, he dropped 22 points (9-15 FG), seven assists, six rebounds, and five steals in 32 minutes.
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During game three against the Pistons on Monday night, Sheppard finally had an “off” night, in which he still managed 15 points, four rebounds, two assists, and three steals in 36 minutes. He shot just 6-17 from the field in the loss — turns out he is human after all.
The Rockets currently sit on a 2-1 record in Las Vegas with one more game remaining before the tournament portion of Summer League begins on Saturday. Sheppard’s next matchup will be of interest to the Big Blue Nation, as well. He’ll go head-to-head against his former Kentucky teammate, Rob Dillingham, when the Rockets face the Timberwolves on Thursday at 11:00 p.m. EST on ESPN.
Speaking of Dillingham, he holds the eighth-best odds to win Rookie of the Year at +1500. The No. 8 overall pick in this summer’s draft has played two games for the Wolves in Las Vegas, averaging nine points, 6.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 26.9 minutes per contest. You can watch Dillingham in action tonight on ESPN2 against Justin Edwards and the 76ers.
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