Reed Sheppard has been one of the Houston Rockets' major storylines through the 2025-26 season. Drafted third overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, Sheppard essentially redshirted his rookie season, as he didn't get much opportunity to contribute on a Rockets team with postseason aspirations. Which happens quite regularly. Coaches typically lean towards proven players with consistent traits. Rookies and/or unproven players have a higher ceiling but oftentimes struggle to consistently put it together. Sheppard has had a golden opportunity to play significant minutes this season, logging 21 starts and averaging 26.2 minutes per night. He averaged 13.5 points, 3.4 assists, 1.5 steals, 2.9 rebounds, 43 percent from the field, 39.4 percent from deep (on seven attempts) and 80.2 percent from the foul line throughout the regular season. The playoffs have told a different story. Which shouldn't be surprising. The pressure is an entirely different beast. The stakes are significantly higher.…