Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard shows out in NBA Summer League debut for Rockets

Reed Sheppard met the moment in his professional debut Friday night.

The former University of Kentucky and North Laurel High School basketball star scored 23 points for the Houston Rockets in his first game in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Sheppard, the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NBA draft last month after he played one season at UK, started Friday’s game against Bronny James, Dalton Knecht and the Los Angeles Lakers and played 29 minutes, 50 seconds in a 99-80 Houston victory.

Sheppard made 9 of his 17 shots from the field, including 4 of 6 from the 3-point arc, a statistical line that undoubtedly pleased Rockets brass, who selected the 6-foot-3 20-year-old with hopes he’ll develop into a floor-spacing long-range sniper as a pro.

Sheppard also made 1 of 2 free throw attempts and contributed four rebounds, five assists, a steal and three blocked shots. Sheppard also committed four turnovers.

When asked on ESPN after the nationally televised game what he liked most about his Summer League debut, Sheppard said, “Just the competition and being out here with my teammates. We’ve had a really good week of practice and it’s just been super fun and now being able to get out and compete and play against some other teams it was a lot of fun.”

At Kentucky in 2023-24, Sheppard was the Wildcats’ third-leading scorer despite starting only five of UK’s 33 games in a 23-10 season that ended in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Sheppard averaged 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.5 assists while shooting 52.1 percent from 3-point range.

Bronny James, the son of NBA legend LeBron James and, like Sheppard, a one-and-done college player, finished with eight points, five rebounds and two steals.

Sheppard and James spent parts of the game guarding each other.

Sheppard mostly ran the point during his time on the floor Friday night but also played off the ball, displaying the same measured style fans came to enjoy at UK from the 2023 Mr. Basketball. The rookie’s bag of tricks included drives into the paint that created open shots for teammates, pull-up jumpers, a breakaway dunk and, of course, a liberal dose of 3s.

Sheppard led the Rockets in scoring. Teammate Cam Whitmore, a second-year pro who starred at Villanova, finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Knecht, a first-round pick by the Lakers after starring in the Southeastern Conference at Tennessee last season, led Los Angeles with 25 points.

Sheppard and the Rockets will be back in action Sunday at 6 p.m. on ESPN2 against the Washington Wizards in Las Vegas.

Dillingham vs. Reeves

Rob Dillingham, whom the Minnesota Timberwolves traded up to grab at No. 8 in last month’s NBA draft, played 26 minutes in his Summer League debut Friday, an 81-74 win over the New Orleans Pelicans and fellow former Wildcat Antonio Reeves.

Dillingham started for Minnesota but struggled to find his shot, finishing 2-for-12 from the field including 0-for-5 from 3-point range. Dillingham, UK’s second-leading scorer as a freshman last season (15.2 ppg), contributed in other ways Friday, collecting five rebounds, five assists a steal and a block while not committing a turnover. Rookie Terrence Shannon Jr., a former Illinois star whom Minnesota picked up at No. 27 on draft night, led Minnesota with 25 points.

Reeves, a fifth-year senior who led Kentucky in scoring last season at 20.2 points per game, was drafted in the second round (No. 47 overall) by Orlando then traded to New Orleans. On Friday, Reeves played 19 minutes off the bench and provided nine points, three rebounds and two assists while committing four turnovers. Reeves shot 2-for-10 from the field, 1-for-4 from 3 and 4-of-4 at the foul line.

Also suiting up for New Orleans on Friday was former Wildcat Keion Brooks Jr., who played two seasons at Kentucky before finishing his college career at Washington. Brooks started for the Pelicans and went scoreless in 21 minutes., picking up four rebounds, two assists and a block.

Minnesota’s next game is Sunday at 5:30 p.m. vs. Indiana. New Orleans returns to the floor Sunday at 7:30 p.m. against Orlando. Both games can be seen on ESPN+ and NBATV.

Double-double for Tshiebwe

Oscar Tshiebwe, the consensus national player of the year at Kentucky in 2022, scored 17 points and grabbed 19 rebounds in the opening game of his second time around in the NBA Summer League on Friday.

Tshiebwe, playing for the Indiana Pacers in a 97-95 overtime loss to the Brooklyn Nets, also contributed four assists and a steal in his 27 minutes. Tshiebwe connected on 7 of 11 shots from the field and 3 of 4 free throws.

Tshiebwe appeared in eight games for the Pacers as a rookie in 2023-24, averaging 3.3 points and 2.0 rebounds in 5.3 minutes per game. The former UK standout spent most of his rookie campaign in the developmental G League, averaging 16.2 points and 16.1 rebounds in 23 games for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

Tshiebwe’s next game is Sunday at 5:30 p.m. against Rob Dillingham and Minnesota (ESPN+, NBA TV).

This story was originally published July 12, 2024 at 10:36 PM.