Rockets’ Reed Sheppard hype reaches seismic point with Hall of Fame comparison

The Houston Rockets hold their 2024 third overall pick, Reed Sheppard, in high regard. After an impressive second season, Sheppard is already being mentioned inside the organization alongside one of the greatest point guards in NBA history: Steve Nash.

Sheppard averaged 13.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists while shooting an elite 39.4% from three. Those statistics were good enough to help him finish sixth in Sixth Man of the Year voting.

They were also enough to spark some massive internal praise from the Rockets organization.

According to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Tim MacMahon, some within the organization believe Sheppard “has the potential to develop into an all-time great, such as former Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash, if given enough time and the right conditions.”

That is certainly a lofty comparison for a second-year guard averaging 13.5 points and 3.4 assists, but there are some similarities between Sheppard and Nash.

Nash was an undersized marksman as well

Nash is listed at 6’3” and 195 pounds, which is remarkably similar to Sheppard’s 6’2”, 185-pound frame. Nash was also a career 42.8% three-point shooter.

That percentage is much higher than Sheppard’s career 38.3% mark, but Sheppard is already praised as an elite shooter. He finished his second season with a 39.4% mark from deep and shot over 40% after the All-Star break. Sheppard can shoot.

It is also worth noting that Nash was not considered a top-tier player until his late 20s. Sheppard is only 21 years old. He has plenty of time to continue growing.

Playmaking is the biggest difference

Right now, Sheppard is mostly considered a secondary playmaker and off-ball spot-up shooter. He is being compared to Nash because of his organization’s belief that he can eventually grow into a primary creator.

Unlike Sheppard’s shooting, where there is tangible evidence that he is borderline elite, his playmaking upside is still largely theoretical. He just finished his second season averaging only 3.4 assists. Sheppard stepped up in the playoffs by averaging 4.7 assists, but that is still a far cry from Nash’s career average of 8.5 assists.

This is not a small playmaking leap Sheppard needs to make before reaching Nash’s level. It is a massive gap. That is not to say Sheppard cannot become an elite playmaker, but it does highlight how far he still has to go before a comparison like this comes to fruition.

At the very least, this comparison shows how much faith the Rockets have in their 2024 third overall pick. As long as Sheppard does not allow the weight of being compared to Steve Nash to negatively impact him, it should serve as a major confidence boost.

The Rockets clearly believe Sheppard can become much more than a shooter. Now, the question is whether he can prove their boldest internal comparison is anything more than wishful thinking.

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