HOUSTON (AP) 鈥� The Houston Rockets selected Reed Sheppard with the third overall pick in Wednesday night, adding a elite long-range shooter to their young team.
鈥淲e ended up with Reed as the best player in the draft by quite a bit, the best prospect we thought鈥� and kind of the only guy we were really focused on,鈥� general manager Rafael Stone said. 鈥淪o if he had not gotten to us we would have probably traded down or out of the draft. When we had the opportunity to pick him, we jumped on it.鈥�
The guard, who spent one season at Kentucky, was the first American taken in this year's draft after French players Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr were selected by Atlanta and Washington with the
Sheppard said he'd dreamed of this moment since he was a little kid. His big night was made even more special by having his parents Jeff and Stacey Sheppard, who also both played at Kentucky, there with him. He turned 20 on Monday.
鈥淚t鈥檚 my mom鈥檚 birthday today,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o that鈥檚 an awesome thing to celebrate as well.鈥�
Sheppard averaged 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.5 steals while appearing in 33 games for the Wildcats. He shot 52.1% from 3-point range and made 83.1% of his free throws. He was the only player in the nation last season to have at least 145 assists, 80 steals and make at least 75 3-pointers.
Sheppard became the second player in school history to have at least 80 steals in a season despite starting just five games. It鈥檚 the 17th consecutive year that Kentucky has had at least one player selected in the NBA draft.
鈥淥ur evaluation was that Reed has a very special skillset that gives him a chance to be special in the NBA,鈥� Stone said.
At 6-foot-2 and 182 pounds, Sheppard is among the smallest players in this year's draft, but is also thought by many draft analysts to be the best shooter.
Sheppard is the latest high draft pick to join the rebuilding Rockets in recent years. They took Amen Thompson fourth last year after adding Jabari Smith Jr. with the third pick in 2022 and Jalen Green second in 2021.
Stone was asked how he thinks Sheppard will fit with his new team.
鈥淗e can really shoot and he can really pass, so players like that fit in every offense,鈥� he said.
The Rockets missed the playoffs for a fourth straight season this year but made a significant jump in their first year under coach Ime Udoka after adding veterans Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet. Houston went 41-41 after winning just 17, 20 and 22 games in the previous three seasons.
鈥淚鈥檓 super excited,鈥� Sheppard said. 鈥淭hey have a really good thing going in Houston. Coach is really good. They have Jalen. They have a bunch of really young athletic guys and we鈥檒l be able to play fast and it鈥檚 going to be fun.鈥�
He is looking forward to playing with VanVleet, a fellow undersized guard who will be entering his ninth season in the NBA.
鈥淭he biggest thing is just going in and learning,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey have guys like Fred VanVleet that I鈥檒l be able to learn from. Just going in with an open mind, ready to learn, ready to do whatever it takes to win and just compete.鈥�
Stone believes VanVleet will help Sheppard, just as he aided many players on the roster in his first year in Houston last season.
鈥淚 think that鈥檚 an invaluable experience,鈥� Stone said. 鈥淔red was amazing for all of our players last year, even the veterans. Fred's probably the most professional and toughest NBA player I鈥檝e ever been around in 20 years in this league. So I think it鈥檚 a blessing for Reed to come into this situation.鈥�
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AP NBA:
Kristie Rieken, The Associated Press
