NBA star guard sees shades of himself in Rockets' Reed Sheppard

A young NBA team like the Houston Rockets is looking to earn respect. Sure, they want respect from fans and analysts, but above all else, they want respect from their peers.

The league is a fraternity. The freshmen want the admiration of the seniors. Typically, they'll have to earn that respect by delivering on an NBA floor.

Reed Sheppard seems to be an exception. He already has the respect of at least one of his peers. Trae Young had a lot of praise to offer him on his recent appearance on Paul George's Podcast P.

Star guard believes in young Rocket

"He's going to be a hell of a player"
-Trae Young on Rockets' Reed Sheppard

We tend to agree.

Some will suggest that it's premature to project Sheppard's career. That's a valid position to hold. We've seen players enter the league with loftier expectations, only to eventually falter.

Still, Sheppard feels like a safe bet. Shooting tends to translate. Sheppard is one of the best shooting prospects we've ever seen. The odds that he'll shoot the ball well at the NBA level are exceedingly high.

That won't necessarily assure him stardom. Sheppard will need to be a dynamic playmaker to reach those levels. For what it's worth, his limited size could make him a target on the defensive end of the floor.

Is that part of why Young likes him?

Star guard may see himself in Sheppard

At the risk of playing armchair psychologist, it's possible.

Young is perhaps the most maligned defensive player in the NBA. His effort has improved over the years, but his size continues to hold him back. It's reasonable to assume that he believes Sheppard can overcome this limitation because he's done the same.

For what it's worth, Sheppard should be a more useful defender than Young. He racked up steals and blocks in college. Sheppard has remarkably quick hands that allow him to make plays on the defensive end of the floor.

Perhaps the Rockets will stash him on the opposing team's weakest offensive player when possible. Unless that player is a big man, Sheppard could cheat off of them and function as a free safety. That's a defensive role that simply isn't available to Young.

Still, Sheppard will be targeted. For him to overcome his size, his offensive productivity will have to outweigh his defensive drawbacks. That's been the calculus that's allowed Young to succeed in the NBA:

It's nice to know Sheppard already has his respect.