Taken with the third overall pick by the Houston Rockets, former Kentucky star Reed Sheppard has already impressed NBA fans and analysts with his shooting and his playmaking. Sheppard played the first three games in Vegas alongside Cam Whitmore, last year's Summer League MVP. However, after Whitmore was shut down following the Rockets’ loss to the Pistons on Monday night, Sheppard has shouldered much of the offensive burden for the otherwise barren Rockets roster.
Receiving wide acclaim for his first two performances, Sheppard’s debut against the Lakers showcased his incredible accuracy from behind the three-point line and his defensive prowess. He tallied 23 points in that game, shooting 4-of-6 from three, five assists and five steals. In the following game against the Wizards, Sheppard had an off-night from behind the arc but made up the production by going 8-of-10 from two-point range and catalyzed the Rockets offense, finishing the night with 22 points and seven assists.
Following his first two games, opposing defenses in the Summer League adjusted to Sheppard’s style of play, often double-teaming him or designing unique defensive sets to stymie his offensive production. Uncommon to observe in the summer slate of games, these adjustments have hindered Sheppard’s offense capabilities as he is constantly being hounded on by defenders. Further, with a lack of real offensive threats on the Rockets roster, Sheppard has been forced to play superhero ball, single-handedl.