Rockets News: Rookie record for Reed Sheppard, positional pivot for Amen Thompson?

For a few years, it felt like the Houston Rockets could break some records we didn't want them to break.

Most losses in a season? They never got close, but it was on the table. Finally, we've landed in 2024. The Rockets are officially looking to break the right records.

One writer thinks Reed Sheppard could break a record this year.

History is on Rockets rookie's side

Could Sheppard make the most threes by a rookie in NBA history? Andrew Stefaniak of Sports Illustrated thinks so.

"Sheppard has a real shot of breaking the rookie record for made threes in a season. The NBA record for made threes by a rookie is currently held by Keegan Murray of the Sacramento Kings, who set it during the 2022-23 season, making 206 in a single season"
-Andrew Stefaniak, Sports Illustrated

He's got a point. The record was set only two seasons ago. That's the nature of three-point records in the three-point era - they're made to be broken. Teams and players are shooting with unprecedented volume, so of course we're seeing unprecedented results.

It remains to be seen how many minutes Sheppard gets. If he's not on the floor frequently enough, he won't pass Murray. Still, we trust that he'll be hoisting up threes whenever he does see the court. If nothing else, it's something to keep an eye on.

By contrast, nobody will be looking to Amen Thompson to break that record. If he makes any strides as a shooter, that will suffice.

It seems like the Rockets will avoid shoehorning him into a position in the meantime.

Rockets sophomore "is a basketball player"

At least, that's Kelly Iko of The Athletic's read.

"The consensus from the coaching staff is that Thompson is a basketball player first, rather than having him shoehorned into a hole"
-Kelly Iko, The Athletic

This will be an interesting dynamic moving forward. Coming into the league, Thompson was billed as a 6'7" point guard. It still feels like the Rockets would maximize his potential by putting him at that position.

Yet, Sheppard flashed some impressive playmaking chops in Summer League. There's an inherent advantage in having a lead ball-handler who can shoot. If Sheppard is the point guard, what will Thompson's role be?

We may have seen shades of it in 2023-24. Thompson thrived in an off-ball role. He effectively functioned as a big man on offense and a wing on the defensive end. That could be a long-term set-up that works for the Rockets, although it may depend on the development of Alperen Sengun's shot.

The bottom line is that much remains unknown about this team's future. Sheppard could be the point guard, or Thompson could be. As long as they put a contender together, we suspect that both young players will be content.

They may break some records in the process.