HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Rockets chosen Reed Sheppard with the third total decide in the NBA draft Wednesday night time, including a elite long-range shooter to their younger crew.
“We ended up with Reed as the very best participant within the draft by fairly a bit, the very best prospect we thought… and type of the one man we have been actually targeted on,” normal supervisor Rafael Stone mentioned. “So if he had not gotten to us we might have in all probability traded down or out of the draft. Once we had the chance to choose him, we jumped on it.”
The guard, who spent one season at Kentucky, was the primary American taken on this yr’s draft after French gamers Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr have been chosen by Atlanta and Washington with the high two picks.
Sheppard mentioned he’d dreamed of this second since he was a bit of child. His huge night time was made much more particular by having his mother and father Jeff and Stacey Sheppard, who additionally each performed at Kentucky, there with him. He turned 20 on Monday.
“It’s my mother’s birthday immediately,” he mentioned. “In order that’s an superior factor to have fun as nicely.”
Sheppard averaged 12.5 factors, 4.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and a couple of.5 steals whereas showing in 33 video games for the Wildcats. He shot 52.1% from 3-point vary and made 83.1% of his free throws. He was the one participant within the nation final season to have at the least 145 assists, 80 steals and make at the least 75 3-pointers.
Sheppard turned the second participant at school historical past to have at the least 80 steals in a season regardless of beginning simply 5 video games. It’s the seventeenth consecutive yr that Kentucky has had at the least one participant chosen within the NBA draft.
“Our analysis was that Reed has a really particular skillset that offers him an opportunity to be particular within the NBA,” Stone mentioned.
At 6-foot-2 and 182 kilos, Sheppard is among the many smallest gamers on this yr’s draft, however can also be thought by many draft analysts to be the very best shooter.
Sheppard is the newest excessive draft decide to hitch the rebuilding Rockets in recent times. They took Amen Thompson fourth final yr after including Jabari Smith Jr. with the third decide in 2022 and Jalen Inexperienced second in 2021.
Stone was requested how he thinks Sheppard will match together with his new crew.
“He can actually shoot and he can actually move, so gamers like that slot in each offense,” he mentioned.
The Rockets missed the playoffs for a fourth straight season this yr however made a major bounce of their first yr underneath coach Ime Udoka after including veterans Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet. Houston went 41-41 after profitable simply 17, 20 and 22 video games within the earlier three seasons.
“I’m tremendous excited,” Sheppard mentioned. “They’ve a very good factor moving into Houston. Coach is absolutely good. They’ve Jalen. They’ve a bunch of actually younger athletic guys and we’ll be capable of play quick and it’s going to be enjoyable.”
He’s wanting ahead to taking part in with VanVleet, a fellow undersized guard who might be coming into his ninth season within the NBA.
“The most important factor is simply moving into and studying,” he mentioned. “They’ve guys like Fred VanVleet that I’ll be capable of be taught from. Simply moving into with an open thoughts, able to be taught, able to do no matter it takes to win and simply compete.”
Stone believes VanVleet will assist Sheppard, simply as he aided many gamers on the roster in his first yr in Houston final season.
“I feel that’s a useful expertise,” Stone mentioned. “Fred was superb for all of our gamers final yr, even the veterans. Fred’s in all probability essentially the most skilled and hardest NBA participant I’ve ever been round in 20 years on this league. So I feel it’s a blessing for Reed to come back into this case.”
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