Reed Sheppard nearly made Rockets history last night

Reed Sheppard is beginning to figure out this whole NBA thing…

It’s been a much-improved sophomore campaign for the former Kentucky Wildcat. Sheppard’s playing time has doubled and his scoring output tripled compared to his rookie season in 2024-25. But now the sharpshooter is earning the trust of his defensive-minded head coach. Sheppard has started seven of his last eight games for the Houston Rockets, none more impressive than what he did on Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Sheppard drilled a career-high nine three-pointers en route to a 119-113 win over the Bucks, one away from tying the franchise’s record for most triples made in a single game. Four Houston players have hit 10 three-pointers in a single game: James Harden (three times), Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and Chandler Parsons. According to The Athletic’s Will Guillroy, Sheppard is now one of just eight NBA players to hit nine or more three-pointers before turning 22 years old. A pair of former Wildcats, Jamal Murray and Tyrese Maxey, are part of that group.

Watch Sheppard work the Bucks in the video below. The London, KY, native finished the night with 27 points on 9-14 outside shooting to go along with six assists, four rebounds, and two steals without a single turnover in 37 minutes of action.

Sheppard has become a huge piece of the Rockets’ success this season. After averaging just 4.4 points in year one, he’s up to 13.7 points in year two. It’s taken a while for Houston head coach Ime Udoka to fully believe in the young shooter, who is admittedly a bit of a liability on defense, but the offensive production is becoming too much to overlook.

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Over his last eight contests, seven as a starter, Sheppard has averaged 16 points, 5.3 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.1 steals in 30 minutes per game on shooting splits of 46.0/44.4/100. Houston went 6-2 during that stretch, including four straight victories. The Rockets now sit on a 47-29 record, good enough for fifth-place in the Western Conference standings.

How Sheppard holds up in the playoffs will be the real test, but he’s been passing all of them in the regular season.

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