On January 8th, Beijing time, Reed Shepard, the third pick of the Houston Rockets in 2024, made his debut in the G League - The Vipers lost to the Blue Team 125-130, but Shepard's performance in this game was eye-catching. He was still a superstar when he was the core of the G League, scoring 49 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds with 8 three-pointers throughout the game.
After Shepard was demoted, many people did not favor him, but Tres Terrell, a Rockets reporter, wrote: I dare not agree. I don't think Shepard should stay in the G League for a year. As long as he finds confidence and touch, he has already won. He can return to the Rockets.
Shepard's shooting was poor in the first quarter with 2 out of 6 shots and 1 out of 4 three-pointers, but in the second quarter, Shepard quickly found his rhythm. In addition to making outside three-pointers, he also stole the ball and dunked like a dragon. It is worth noting that Shepard is the highest jumper in the joint trial, with a running jump of 46 inches, although his body is slightly thin.
After establishing confidence, Shepard's one-on-one ability was also demonstrated. It is known that he was hailed as "Little Curry" in the NCAA, and he continuously made fancy dribbling layups and feints.
In the first half, Shepard scored 16 points, and the NBA G League officials also praised him. In the third quarter, Shepard quickly reached 20+ and then 25+, but the Vipers were always suppressed.
In the final quarter, Shepard continued to score, reaching 30+, then 35+, and by the last 2 minutes and 25 seconds, he had already reached 40+. Shepard's 49th point helped the Vipers reduce the gap to 5 points, but the Blue Team started to control the pace. Shepard missed a three-pointer; if it had gone in, the gap would have been only 2 points. Unfortunately, it was just a little off. Samuel's mid-range shot reduced the gap to 3 points, and after continued fouls, the game came to an end.
Throughout the game, Shepard played for 36 minutes and 42 seconds, shooting 17 out of 33, making 8 out of 19 three-pointers, and 4 out of 4 free throws, scoring 49 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 block, with a shooting percentage of 51.5% and a three-point percentage of 42.1%. Is there still any doubt about Shepard's talent?
