Houston coach Ime Udoka believes Reed Sheppard is a ‘perfect fit’ for Rockets

By Keith Taylor
Kentucky Today

Reed Sheppard has landed in Houston.

The former Kentucky guard, selected third overall in last week’s NBA draft, was officially introduced by the Rockets at a press conference this week in Houston. He signed a rookie deal that will pay him approximately $45.8 million over the first four seasons. The contract is guaranteed for the first two seasons with team options on the third and fourth years of the deal.

Houston and coach Ime Udoka have high hopes for Sheppard as he prepares for his professional career.

“His shooting ability, his IQ, (he) has a great lineage with his parents and if you know their history, you know he was raised well and grew up in a basketball family and a great Kentucky community,” Udoka said. “So all those things stood out and then you get to know the person and it was a perfect match.”

Sheppard, who will play in the team’s summer league games next week in Las Vegas, is taking the same approach from college to the NBA.

“I think just playing every game, doing whatever it takes to win, being the guy that does whatever he can, whatever the coach needs, whatever the team needs, I’m going to do it the best I can,” Sheppard said. “I come in every day and practice with a positive mindset all season long, work really hard and be the guy on the team that’s going to do whatever it takes to win.”

Sheppard said his lone season with the Wildcats helped prepare him for the next level and he’s eager to showcase his skills against the higher-caliber talent he’ll face for the remainder of his basketball career.

“At Kentucky, you get better every day,” Sheppard said. “You get to play against the best players in the world. In practice, you have a target on your back every game. I think that really helped me as a rookie.”

Sheppard gave a glimpse into his upbringing Tuesday, saying his parents, Jeff and Stacey, told their son from a young age that he couldn’t be “soft” on the court. The Sheppards also allowed their son to carve his own path on the hardwood.

“Mom and Dad never forced me to play basketball,” Sheppard said at his introductory news conference Tuesday. “It was really cool growing up with them, listening to them and learning. Having them with me at Kentucky was really cool. They didn’t miss a game.”

He also added that he had “learned a lot” from his parents.

“They both played a huge role in my basketball journey,” Sheppard said. “The biggest thing they taught me was to work hard, compete and not let anyone get ahead of me.”

Sheppard not only wants to make a name for himself on the field, but also off the field, in his new surroundings.

“I don’t want to be known just as a basketball player. I think it’s important to get out in the community, interact with the fans and have good relationships with your teammates,” he said. “Looking back 20 years from now, (I want people to see me) as a winner, a competitor and a good person.”