Reed Sheppard wasn’t supposed to be as good as he is. He was a 4-star prospect on a Kentucky Wildcats team littered with 5-star talent all over the court.
However, Sheppard quickly became the team’s go-to weapon offensively, and NBA scouts took notice. The London (KY) native was the third-overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and was the first collegiate player taken.
While he’s played well at times, Sheppard hasn’t had an incredibly impactful rookie season, and the Rockets, who are 4-6 in their last 10, have struggled in the last few months and sit 5th in the Western Conference.
To make matters even worse, Sheppard, per the team’s head coach, will be out for at least four weeks with a fractured thumb.
Sheppard was just starting to find his groove as well. Per OptaSTATS, he became the first player in NBA history to tally 25+ points, 5+ assists, 3+ made triples, and at least three combined steals and blocks in his first career start.
If the Rockets are able to make a playoff run, Sheppard should be available. However, the regular season is set to end on April 13, so this injury could also be the death of Sheppard’s first season in the NBA.
Sheppard, if his season is over, will end up averaging 3.9 points per game on 11.9 minutes of action. He averaged 33.2% from the field and 27.9% from deep. The former Kentucky standout will certainly hope to build on these figures next season.
