Rockets guard Reed Sheppard sent to the NBA G-League

Reed Sheppard’s rookie season in the NBA has yet to go as expected, leading to the decision to send him down to the G League for more playing time.

On Monday, the Houston Rockets announced that they are reassigning Sheppard to their G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. The team has the option to recall him at any time. The Vipers are next in court on Tuesday night.

Drafted third overall in 2024 NBA DraftSheppard’s first year with the Rockets has seen limited action. The 6-foot-2 guard has appeared in 30 games, but his role has primarily been off the bench. Averaging just 3.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 11.6 minutes per game.

Sheppard going to the G-League could be beneficial for him as Sheppard currently needs more playing time to develop. Sheppard, a 20-year-old from Kentucky, showed flashes of potential early in the season and earned some trust from head coach Ime Udoka.

But his role has diminished recently, with Sheppard not logging any minutes in three of the Rockets’ last four games. His only appearance came in a blowout loss to Boston Celtics.

With the Rockets in second place in the Western Conference at 23-12, the team is focused on immediate success. Sheppard has to share minutes with Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet, both of whom are among the team’s leading scorers. Given the team’s win-now mentality, there is less need to prioritize Sheppard’s development through extended minutes.

It’s surprising to see Sheppard sent to the G-League after being a Top 3 pick in the NBA Draft and having success at Kentucky, where he gained strong support from fans in Lexington and beyond. In another scenario where the Rockets weren’t focused on competing for the playoffs, Sheppard would likely play for a lottery team focused on rebuilding.

The positive takeaway is that Sheppard will likely thrive in the G League with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and get the minutes he needs to grow.