The Houston Rockets selected Sheppard with the third overall pick.
Over the past 18 months, Reed Sheppard has gone from being Mr. Kentucky to a four-star prospect who was struggling to establish himself at a prestigious Kentucky program. Now, he is the third-overall choice in the 2024 NBA Draft.
After two French players were selected with the first and second picks, Sheppard was selected by the Houston Rockets as the first collegiate player.
Sheppard’s strong shooting efficiency (he shot 52.1% from deep last season) and superior basketball IQ are his key selling points. Not only is he a good basketball player, but he also has good athleticism and usually makes the perfect play, much like Steve Nash.
Sheppard should blend in well with the youthful Rockets, particularly if his role in his debut season is limited to spot-up shooting. Regarding what he plans to produce, Jeff Drummond provided a breakdown below.
Sheppard made over 50% of his field goals and long-range shots, and he also shot over 83% from the free-throw line. He is a good on-ball defender who averaged 2.5 steals per game at the NCAA level, even though his off-ball defense might use some improvement.
Sheppard’s potential is boundless, and with Houston’s young talent, he should be able to get off to a strong start in the NBA.
Rob Dillingham, who was technically selected by the Spurs with the eighth overall pick, was the only other player from the Cats to hear his name shouted on Wednesday. On Thursday, Justin Edwards and maybe Antonio Reeves will take the stage.