Houston Rockets second-year guard Reed Sheppard has taken quite the leap in the 2025-26 season.
After a disappointing rookie season, the second-year guard has provided plenty of highlights in an expanded role with Fred VanVleet injured, perhaps none bigger than his second-half performance against the Magic on Thursday night. It looked like a game to forget for the Rockets, who trailed 76-57 late in the third quarter after Sheppard’s turnover led to a Paolo Banchero dunk in transition.
From there, though, it was the Reed Sheppard show. He helped spur a 21-0 run for Houston, scoring or assisting on 13 of those points while lighting it up from deep. That run was enough to convince head coach Ime Udoka to finally let Sheppard close the game, and Udoka’s faith was rewarded with multiple clutch threes from the 21-year-old to ice the comeback win.
It was only one game, but in one of Houston’s best wins of the season, Sheppard proved why he should regularly close games for the Rockets.
Sheppard meeting the moment
Sheppard finished with 20 points off the bench in the win, scoring 18 of those in the second half. He didn’t even attempt a three-pointer in the first half, but hit five of them in the final two frames while shooting an efficient 7-for-11 from the field.
It’s the type of confidence that Sheppard lacked in his first season with Houston, but one that’s been on full display in his first year as a regular part of the rotation. When the Rockets needed a basket down the stretch, it was the 21-year-old who hit the clutch shots, not Kevin Durant.
At this point in the season, that type of production still likely won’t be enough for Sheppard to enter the starting lineup. Udoka heavily implied earlier in the season that he wouldn’t even consider bringing Amen Thompson off the bench despite his spacing issues on offense. Thompson was a team-worst -15 against Orlando, and the head coach subbed him out for good with eight and a half minutes left to let Sheppard run the offense.
It’s clear that Sheppard’s shooting ability is a better fit for Houston’s offense, but if Udoka is determined to stick with Thompson, then the solution is to have him close games instead.
After watching the second-year guard’s heroics down the stretch, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be on the court in crunch time. The second-year guard showed he’s deserving of more minutes in the win over Orlando, and Udoka needs to give Sheppard that opportunity, especially if he continues to play at the recent level he has.
