As Reed Sheppard enters his second season in the NBA, the Houston Rockets, with one of the deepest rotations in the league, ironically need the 21-year-old guard to step up in order to plug a major hole in their offense.
According to Kevin O'Connor, an NBA Analyst for Yahoo Sports, Sheppard's ability to space the floor and create shots will be something the Rockets are sorely lacking this season, and, beyond veteran guard Fred VanVleet, Sheppard is the one who must take on that role.
While expectations for Sheppard, who was the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, have been tempered thus far as a result of Houston's mass of young talent, the timeline has now accelerated with the acquisition of Kevin Durant, and Sheppard must take a leap quickly if he is going to make an impact on this team.