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At summer league, Rockets want to develop Reed Sheppard as point guard
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- At summer league, Rockets want to develop Reed Sheppard as point guard
Drafted at No. 3 overall in the 2024 first round, the Houston Rockets know Reed Sheppard has the potential to shoot at an elite level in the NBA.
After a somewhat slow start (amid very inconsistent minutes) to his 2024-25 rookie season, the Kentucky product shot 40.6% from 3-point range in February, March, and April.
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So, as the 21-year-old prepares to play at summer league in a few days , the Rockets are prioritizing development in the other areas of his game. Garrett Jackson , an assistant to Ime Udoka who is again serving as head coach at summer league, indicated at Monday's practice that the focus is on developing Sheppard as a point guard.
"I want Reed to be aggressive," Jackson said. "I want to see more growth as a point guard, for him. I want to see him handle the ball, and get people set up. Push the pace. He's taking on more of a leadership role and talking to guys. Part of leadership is setting the table for the rest of his teammates."
"He's got a lot of tools and is a very smart player, so I just want to see him get more comfortable on the court," Jackson added.
After playing only sparingly as a rookie for a 52-30 team that finished No. 2 in the Western Conference, the plan is for Sheppard to play much more as a sophomore . As the primary backup to Fred VanVleet , the hope is for Sheppard to become more well-rounded as a player, and that means developing as a floor general and as a defender.
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Defensively, the goal is for film study and offseason work in the weight room to make Sheppard smarter and stronger. Offensively, a major point of emphasis is remembering that aggression means more than simply volume shooting.
"I try to keep the game as simple as I can, and put my teammates in good spots to make shots," Sheppard said after Monday's practice. "Being aggressive isn't just about shooting. It's getting in the paint and making the right play. Kicking out to the corner, shooting floaters or pull-ups, whatever it is. Just trying to be the best player that I can be, and help the team as much as I can."
Organization, both on and off the court, is another one of VanVleet's point-guard qualities that Sheppard is looking to emulate.
"Communicating is the biggest thing, and being able to take control of the five (players) you have on the court," Sheppard said. "Always talk, and get them in their places."
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With Sheppard being the only projected regular-season rotation player on Houston's summer roster , expect his development to be prioritized.
"For summer league, this is my team for the next couple of weeks," Sheppard surmised. "The biggest thing for me is just to stay confident and have fun out there, play loose, and work on all the stuff we've been working on in the offseason."
More: In 2025-26, Rockets reportedly plan to expand Reed Sheppard's role
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: At summer league, Rockets want to develop Reed Sheppard as point guard
