Reed Sheppard's electrifying showing against the Boston Celtics has everyone talking – is this the spark that finally ignites his NBA potential after a bumpy ride so far?
Let's rewind a bit to understand where Reed Sheppard came from in his young NBA career. As a second-year guard for the Houston Rockets, he was drafted with high hopes to boost an offense that had been struggling mightily with its shooting accuracy in prior seasons. Picture this: the team had been at the bottom of the league in field goal percentage, making every bucket feel like a battle. Even though the Rockets made a massive leap, winning 19 more games and ending the 2023-24 season with a balanced 41-41 record, they still landed a top-three pick in the 2024 draft thanks to a savvy trade from earlier years. For beginners, that trade essentially swapped future picks to guarantee a high selection, like trading a future favor for a star player now.
What really turned the Rockets' heads during the draft scouting was Sheppard's deadly accurate shooting, especially from long range beyond the three-point line. In his single college season at the University of Kentucky, he topped the entire country by draining an astonishing 52.1% of his three-pointers – that's like hitting more than half your shots from way downtown, a rare skill that can change games. The team saw his sharp basketball smarts and his knack for playing without the ball as a perfect match for their existing lineup of stars.
But here's where it gets tricky – and maybe a little frustrating for fans. Early in the 2024-25 season, despite a promising summer league stint where he dazzled with efficient play, Sheppard hit some rough patches adjusting to the blistering pace of pro basketball. For those new to the NBA, 'pace' means how quickly the game moves, with defenders closing in faster than in college, forcing split-second decisions. Sheppard often looked unsure, passing up wide-open threes instead of shooting, and when he did fire away, the ball didn't always find the net as reliably as it had before.
This uncertainty spilled over into his role as a ball handler too. The Rockets envisioned him sharing some of the point guard duties to ease the load on others, but NBA defenses proved too tough for him to navigate consistently. He'd get stuck, leading to lost possessions through turnovers or simply stalled plays where the offense ground to a halt. It's like trying to weave through traffic on a busy highway when you're used to empty country roads – intimidating at first.
To build his on-court swagger, the Rockets smartly loaned him to their developmental squad, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the G League. If you're wondering, the G League is basically the NBA's minor league system, a proving ground where young players get more minutes and less pressure to sharpen their skills. There, Sheppard became the centerpiece of the attack, free from the need to mesh with superstars right away. The results? Explosive. He posted an average of 30.7 points across three outings, capped by a jaw-dropping 49-point masterpiece in a victory that had scouts raving.
Yet, even after that G League glow-up, Sheppard faced ongoing hurdles back with the big club until the final stretch of the season. With the Rockets locking down the No. 2 seed in the playoffs well ahead of time, they could afford to bench their main guys for rest, giving Sheppard another shot to shine as the focal point. He seized it, delivering his most consistent and impressive string of NBA games yet to close out the year. Though his minutes were limited during the Rockets' tough seven-game playoff defeat, it served as a solid launchpad heading into the 2025-26 campaign.
And this is the part most people miss: while it's exciting to see Sheppard thrive as the top or secondary scoring option, that's hardly his everyday gig – at least not in the near future, and probably not 99% of the time with this roster. What the team truly craves from him right now, particularly with key guard Fred VanVleet sidelined by injury, is a reliable sharpshooter from deep who can also handle the ball steadily without forcing things. Think of it as needing a trusty sidekick who spaces the floor and sets up plays, not the hero stealing the spotlight every night.
That's exactly the version of Sheppard we witnessed in the Rockets' dominant rout of the Celtics on Saturday night. He tallied 12 points, dished out three assists, and remarkably avoided any turnovers in the victory. From three-point land, he was nearly perfect at 4-for-5, and he kept the ball moving fluidly without hogging it. When it was his turn to direct traffic, Sheppard stayed smart and simple: he initiated the team's sets smoothly and chose the right passes or shots without overcomplicating matters. It's a subtle but crucial skill – being efficient rather than flashy.
But here's where it gets controversial: can Sheppard ever evolve into a true lead guard, calling the shots like a floor general? Some fans argue the Rockets should push him harder in that direction, while others say forcing it could stunt his growth as a specialist. For now, though, the priority is clear – the Rockets just want him excelling in his niche as a three-point assassin and a supporting creator alongside talents like Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, and Kevin Durant. If he nails that, he'll become the ideal puzzle piece for this season's success.
What do you think – is Sheppard destined for a bigger role, or should the Rockets keep him as a specialized weapon? Drop your takes in the comments below; I'd love to hear if you agree he's on the cusp of stardom or if his path looks different to you!
