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As chemistry grows, Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard embraces NBA debut

Vaseline October 24, 2024

“I’m just really excited to walk out for the first time in my first game,” Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard said ahead of Wednesday’s regular-season opener.

Brian Barfield
| Rockets Wire, Big Sarge Media

HOUSTON – Rookie guard Reed Sheppard stood at the free-throw line after the Rockets’ morning shootaround on Wednesday and went through his shooting routine.

While he was concentrating on getting the shot, he was constantly approached by his 6-foot-4 teammate, Steven Adams, who was acting like an annoying big brother looking for a reason to mess with his little brother.

As Adams made noises and stood right next to him, Reed hit consecutive free throws as if he were practicing at his home in London, Kentucky.

It takes a lot for the No. 3 overall selection in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft to come into turmoil, and he stepped onto the court with the same demeanor at Toyota Center on Wednesday night. That game is Sheppard’s first regular-season game.

“I’m just really excited,” Sheppard said after Wednesday’s shootaround. “The nerves haven’t really started yet. I’m sure I’ll be a little nervous when I make my way to the arena and reach the arena. But right now I’m just really excited to be running in my first race for the first time.

Sheppard, 20, didn’t know how many minutes he would play. Still, he knows the chemistry he’s built among his teammates — especially players like Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore and Fred VanVleet, with whom he’ll be on the court countless times next season — has grown throughout training camp and the preseason . .

The former Kentucky Wildcat is known as an excellent perimeter shooter, making 52.1% of his three-pointers during his lone collegiate season. If he can repeat that success in the NBA, it should open up space for many of his teammates, who have an excellent ability to push to the limit.

“It’s easy when everyone knows how to play basketball the right way,” Sheppard said when asked about the camaraderie he has developed with his teammates. “We’ve been playing together for a few months now, which allows us to come into the gym every day and continue to get to know each other by learning more offense and defense with each other. We’re just figuring out how each other plays, and it’s been a lot of fun. I feel like our chemistry is getting better every day.”

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