Rockets coach Ime Udoka sees well-rounded player in rookie Reed Sheppard

Drafted at No. 3 overall in the 2024 first round, Reed Sheppard was billed as a sharpshooter after his lone collegiate season at Kentucky. While there, the 6-foot-2 guard shot over 52% on 3-pointers.

Yet, even though Sheppard shot below 28% on 3-pointers in a very limited four-game sample at the NBA’s 2024 summer league, he still made a clear impact for the Houston Rockets — as evidenced by Sheppard’s selection to the All-Summer League First Team.

One person who noticed was head coach Ime Udoka, who will decide Sheppard’s minutes and role with the Rockets when the 2024-25 season begins in October. In an interview with Vanessa Richardson of Space City Home Network, the team’s regional TV broadcast partner, Udoka raved about the well-rounded nature of Sheppard’s game and his ability to make an impact in many ways.

When asked what impressed him about Sheppard, Udoka said:

His composure. The IQ. The shooting ability… but more than that, the competitiveness, toughness, the intangibles that he brings.

We know about the things he does really well, but to see how much of a well-rounded player and natural leader he is, he’s fit right in.

He processes what teams are trying to do to him. They’re throwing some different looks at him and putting different personnel on him, and he’s taking it in stride.

He’s not getting overwhelmed, at all. He just continues to make the right play. That’s something that’s hard to teach, especially with only one year of college.

He just has a really good feel. He keeps it simple. He doesn’t over dribble or get himself in trouble. He takes the shot when it’s there, makes the pass when it’s there. He’s not worried about his result, it’s about what’s best for the team.

The complete Richardson-Udoka interview can be viewed below.

In four summer-league contests, Sheppard averaged a team-high 20.0 points (50.0% shooting), 5.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.8 steals. Houston went 2-2 in those games with Sheppard starting at point guard, including a 2-1 mark when Sheppard was flanked in the starting lineup by second-year wing prospect Cam Whitmore.