Reed Sheppard named G League Player of the Week after dominant 3-game stretch

The Houston Rockets recently sent Reed Sheppard to the G League for some extra reps. The former Kentucky Wildcat quickly proved he’s too good for that level of basketball.

On Tuesday, it was announced that Sheppard was named the G League Player of the Week for his three-game stretch with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Sheppard averaged 30.7 points, eight assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.7 steals in 35.5 minutes per game while shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from deep. The Vipers posted a 2-1 record with Sheppard on the team. His best performance was a 49-point outing that came in his G League debut.

Not too shabby for the No. 3 overall pick.

• Jan. 7 (130-125 L): 49 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals in 36 minutes | 17-34 FG, 8-19 3PT, 4-4 FT
• Jan. 9 (130-118 W): 19 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals in 37 minutes | 5-16 FG, 4-11 3PT, 3-3 FT
• Jan. 11 (132-113 W): 24 points, 9 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals in 31 minutes | 9-17 FG, 3-7 3PT, 2-2 FT

It was just last Monday that Sheppard was demoted to the G League. Exactly one week later, the Rockets saw enough out of the lottery pick and immediately brought him back up to the NBA. However, Houston head coach Ime Udoka still didn’t play him in his return on Monday night, a two-point win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

The main reason Sheppard was sent to the G League in the first place was to get him some real playing time. After seeing a decent role early into his rookie season, he was hardly on the floor throughout December. Sheppard averaged just 11.9 minutes per game last month, including three DNPs. Let’s hope that begins to change.

Oscar Tshiebwe is also tearing up the G League

A long NBA career might not be in the cards for Oscar Tshiebwe, but he’ll be playing professional basketball in some capacity for a long, long time. Now in year two as a pro, Tshiebwe continues to tear up the G League level. On Tuesday night, he produced his first 30-point, 20-rebound game of the season, finishing with 30 points, 22 rebounds, three steals, and three assists for the Salt Lake City Stars.

MONSTER PERFORMANCE 😱

FIRST 30+20 stat line for @Oscartshiebwe34 this season!

📊30PTS / 22REB / 3STL / 3AST
WIN || #TakeNote #ItStartsHere pic.twitter.com/OnkPtnjf8Z

— Salt Lake City Stars (@slcstars) January 15, 2025

Tshiebwe began his NBA career with the Indiana Pacers in 2023-24, spending most of his season in the G League with the Indiana Mad Ants. The Utah Jazz picked him up during the offseason on a two-way deal and he’s been excellent ever since. He was even called up to the NBA on Jan. 12 for one game as he posted six points, five rebounds, and two steals in 18 minutes against the Brooklyn Nets.

Through 22 games for the Stars, the 6-foot-9 big man is averaging 15.2 points, 17.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.2 blocks in 30.6 minutes per outing while shooting 55.7 percent from the field. He already has eight games this season with at least 20 rebounds. Keep on grinding, Big O.