No. 3 pick Reed Sheppard signs rookie-scale contract with Rockets

Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard, the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft last week, signed his rookie-scale contract on Tuesday, the team announced.

He will make $8,415,800 next season as the third pick.

Sheppard was named SEC Freshman of the Year after averaging 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 steals on 52.1% shooting from 3-point range at Kentucky. He had seven 20-point games, including a season-high 32 points and the game-winning shot on Feb. 27.

The 6-foot-3 guard led the country in 3-point percentage and finished 10th in total steals (82). He was the only player in the country to record at least 145 assists, 80 steals and 75 3-pointers, and just the second in program history with 80 or more steals in a season.

Sheppard is the Rockets’ third top-five pick in as many years (Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson). He is the third player to be drafted at No. 3 by the Rockets in franchise history, joining Rodney McCray in 1983 and Smith in 2022.

The 20-year-old is expected to suit up with the Rockets in the NBA Summer League. The team will play at least five games in the annual event, beginning with Dalton Knecht, Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers on July 12 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sheppard will be joined in summer league by fellow rookie N’Faly Dante, second-year forward Cam Whitmore and Nate Hinton, among other players.