Despite limited court time during his inaugural NBA season, Houston Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard continues to receive high praise from the organization's leadership. General Manager Rafael Stone recently emphasized his unwavering confidence in the No. 3 overall draft pick from Kentucky.
"I think Reed's just a really, really talented player," Stone told ESPN. "Very few people shoot as well as him. Very few people pass as well as him, and more even than pass, see the offense so clearly and so easily. That's not really a skill that is taught, not at the level he can do it. We think that he has a chance to be really special."
Sheppard's restricted playing opportunities came primarily as a result of joining a rapidly improving Rockets squad that finished 41-41 last season and appears to be entering a competitive window. On many other NBA teams, the sharpshooting guard likely would have received significantly more minutes as either a starter or key reserve.
According to Statbet's performance analysis, rookies in competitive rotation situations often see substantial increases in playing time during their sophomore seasons as they adapt to professional systems.
Stone's comments strongly suggest Sheppard remains firmly in Houston's future plans, with expectations of an expanded role next season. While the talented rookie's skills make him a valuable trade asset that will likely generate interest from other teams, Stone's enthusiastic assessment indicates the Rockets would only consider moving Sheppard for an extraordinary offer.
As Houston continues its upward trajectory, Sheppard's elite shooting and playmaking vision appear perfectly suited for a potential breakthrough as a impact reserve guard in the coming season.
