Forgotten Reed Sheppard skill could make all the difference for Rockets this season

As the Houston Rockets enter the 2025-26 NBA season, the question on the forefront of the organization's mind needs to be the manner in which they will approach accounting for the loss of starting point guard Fred VanVleet, who is likely to miss the entire season after suffering an ACL injury in a team mini-camp last week.

One move that is implicit in this loss is the need for increased minutes from Reed Sheppard, and, although his limited defensive ceiling presents a number of concerns in regards to his viability, the ability he showed in college to read passing lanes and come away with steals could be the key to him developing into a playable young guard for the Rockets this season.

While Amen Thompson will likely take over starting point guard duties to start the season, Sheppard becoming both a reliable perimeter shooter and avoiding being a defensive liability could greatly increase the amount of combinations that Houston could utilize within their rotation, perhaps catapulting them right back into serious title contention.

Reed Sheppard's ability to get steals could be massive for the Rockets

In his rookie season, Sheppard struggled to crack the rotation, averaging just 4.4 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists on a diet of just 12.6 minutes per night. Yet, given the team's lack of backcourt depth heading into this season, he will need to take on a much more significant role, perhaps playing close to 20 minutes per night if head coach Ime Udoka can trust him with them.

The primary concern lies in Sheppard's questionable defensive ability at the point of attack. At just 6'2", his small frame and lack of lateral quickness and flexibility often forces him to get beat on a downhill drive or get stuck fighting through a screen.

While, for many other teams, this might not present as much of a problem in the regular season, having a player that can be target by opposing offenses in the playoffs can sink a team from the start.

Sheppard, however, does not necessarily need to be that player. In his lone season at Kentucky, he led the entire SEC in steals, averaging 3.4 steals per 40 minutes. Moreover, even while being in a bench role for the Wildcats, he posted a 1.3 defensive box plus-minus, showing his ability to be engaged and pesky on defense when called upon.

While Sheppard will certainly never be among even the top defenders at his position, many have completely written him off to this point as an unavoidable defensive liability. However, if he can prove this season to be at least as engaged as he was in college, the Rockets have enough defensive versatility to cushion some of his drawbacks, thereby allowing the team to continue to play one of their most important pieces regularly throughout the course of the season.