Rockets’ Reed Sheppard flashes the traits that made him a top-5 draft pick

LAS VEGAS — For the final four minutes of the first quarter of his NBA Summer League debut, Reed Sheppard, with just three points to his name, sat on the bench in silence. And watched.

There was no small talk with teammates. There was no momentary tapping of the shoulder of an assistant coach for in-game advice. Just the newest Houston Rockets guard and his thoughts, alone amid a ravenous crowd inside the Thomas &Mack Center.

The nerves were there, but in truth, they never really depart Sheppard’s side. Every competitive basketball game as far back as Sheppard can remember has been this way: at North Laurel High School, within the hallowed halls at the University of Kentucky and now with the Rockets, having just turned 20 years old a few weeks ago and still learning how to play with people he just met.

The irony is that it’s in those moments, when the noise surrounding you is almost deafening, when clarity and understanding permeate the surface.

“It’s basketball,” Sheppard, picked third overall in last month’s NBA Draft, said following the Rockets’ 99-80 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. “There’s highs and lows, nobody’s perfect. So just keeping a positive mindset through it all and going out and having fun, playing basketball the right way.”

Through Sheppard’s seated observations, he could see gaps in the Lakers defense to exploit. He could envision how to leverage his elite shooting with the spacing his other teammates could provide. And perhaps most importantly, he could see how to carry over what the team had worked on in practice.

Garrett Jackson, head coach of Houston’s summer-league team, had discussed drawing upon key principles from Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and applying them to the youthful roster. Ball movement and quick decision-making, both in transition and the half court, were high on the priority list.

Sheppard’s presence has introduced new geometry into the Rockets’ offensive schematics. Navigating the roads of the NBA as a rookie can be an arduous task, but the Vegas contingent has already given Sheppard, who has long been lauded for his on-court IQ, the green light.

By the time the third quarter rolled around Friday, Sheppard’s muscle memory kicked into high gear. Each dribble felt more confident than the last. Every shot that left Sheppard’s fingertips felt like it would find mesh. With a coaching staff and teammates who urged and almost demanded Sheppard remain aggressive — and a strong Rockets support system seated courtside at the opposite end of the floor cheering his every move — the rookie responded in resounding fashion.

Sheppard scored an efficient 12 points in the third quarter on 5-for-7 shooting, more than he had amassed in the entire first half, en route to a team-high 23 points to go along with five assists, four rebounds, three blocks and a steal. Sheppard’s four 3s will garner the most attention, especially because of the degree of difficulty, on his stat sheet, but his underrated handle allowed him to create separation at different spots on the floor.

So much for nerves.

He just stayed the course,” Jackson said. “He was just steady. Let the game come to him, making the right reads. Any time we could get him playing pick-and-roll in space, especially high on the court, he was able to make reads, attack bigs, pull up and shoot.”

From an offensive standpoint, Sheppard showed a maturity to his game that should propel him forward, not only for the remainder of summer league but through training camp and his regular season with the senior team. There were strong reminders of his Kentucky days as a secondary playmaker, not wasting possessions and not afraid, almost insisting on making an extra pass to give up a good shot for a greater one. His shooting alone is something that is needed in spades in Houston, but his half-court intelligence might be just as necessary, especially in situations when Fred VanVleet or Alperen Sengün are on the bench.

Defensively, the 6-foot-2 Sheppard also provided reason for intrigue and optimism in his debut. One of his redeeming qualities at the collegiate level was his penchant for creating turnovers in key moments. Throughout the pre-draft process, scouts, analysts and front-office executives raved about his steal and block rates, despite being an undersized freshman guard. But there were also doubts about whether that would carry over to the next level. There were instances where his size put him at a disadvantage Friday, but Sheppard has the build and speed of a defensive back and makes plays on the ball just like one.

“Those types of instincts kind of remind me of Fred (VanVleet),” Jackson said. “Fred’s not the tallest guy, but he’s very smart. Defensively, he’s got quick hands and knows how to jump lanes. Reed is very similar.”

Sheppard is walking into a situation in Houston with a team that has gotten a taste of winning, improving its win total by 19 games last season, and is hungry for more. Between the likes of VanVleet, Jalen Green, Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore, there aren’t excessive minutes to fill. He’ll have to fight for every second on the floor. Those around him in team practices describe his demeanor as calm and measured, but Sheppard’s energy is infectious and seems to already have made an impact.

Bronny James may have been the main attraction who got fans in their seats Friday, but Sheppard kept them there.

“I just thought he looked comfortable,” Jackson said. “He looked really confident. He’s a smart player, a great shooter, and he displayed that tonight.”