The arrival of Reed Sheppard to the Houston Rockets was highly anticipated. After a standout season at Kentucky as a freshman, though he only started five games, Sheppard raised his draft stock for the club to select him with the No.

The rebuild is now over in Houston. The Rockets are now in the second year of their self-proclaimed "Phase 2" in the post-James-Harden era, and after a 41-win campaign in 2023-24, head coach Ime Udoka and the roster as a whole are clear about the team's goals: it's playoffs or bust in Houston, a refreshing turn given the depths of recent seasons.

Houston Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard is embracing his initiation into the NBA, from post-practice work to getting acclimated to game action.