Houston Rockets: Reed Sheppard Talks Durant and Summer League

Houston Rockets: Reed Sheppard Talks Durant and Summer League

I mean, first I’m excited just to be back out being able to play. Um, you know, it’s super exciting getting to play with a bunch of new guys and go out in Vegas and just have fun and play. But, uh, you know, the biggest thing for me is just, uh, staying confident, going out there, having fun, uh, playing loose, and just working on everything that we’ve been working on this summer. What do you want to see as as far as your ball handling? And I know you’re going to play off ball a little bit, but it seems like you’re going to be really starting to handle the ball even more this season. Yeah, I think just keep working on it. um you know, keep keep getting in the gym, keep making the right reads, uh keep the game as simple as I can when I get out there and and put my teammates in uh good spots to make shots. You started looking ahead at all to some of your new teammates who will be joining you and kind of, you know, how they like to to run offense and how you can work with them. Uh I mean, I haven’t looked too much because I got I got summer league right now. So, right now, this is this is my team uh for the next couple weeks. So, um, but you know, I’m really excited for for the season and then and the new guys, but right now I’m mainly focused on just these next couple weeks with these guys. You wanted you to be more aggressive and kind of exhibit that and grow into that. What does that mean to you? Yeah, I think just just looking for my shot and uh doing doing what I do. I think being being aggressive isn’t just shooting, but getting in the paint, making the right play, um kicking out to the corner, shooting floaters, pull outs, whatever that is. Just being aggressive. um trying to be the best player that I can be and help the team as much as I can. What was your reaction to what was your reaction to acquiring Kevin Durant and what are your thoughts on him joining your team? Um I mean obviously Kevin Durant’s a really good player. Um you know it was pretty cool for me. I’ve grown up watching him my whole life. Um so I mean I’m I’m really excited to play with him. He’s a tremendous player and can score and do everything you need in a basketball player. So it should be really fun playing with him. after going through uh your rookie season, what are you doing this off season in order to come back more stronger to handle some of the rigor of some of the bigger guards that you have to play against in the NBA? Yeah, I mean um you know this summer we’ve been in the we’ve been in the weight room a lot. We’ve been um you know working on physicality on the court whether it’s defense or offensive physicality um and just getting stronger and just being mentally ready for for the physicality. Coach talked about you growing as a leader um during this process ahead of summer league. What does leadership look like to you? Yeah, I think just communicating um is the biggest thing. I think being able to to take control of of the the five that you have on the court and just talk and get them in their places and whether it’s in the locker room, whatever it is, just uh always always talk and communicate throughout practice, throughout the games, and throughout the season. Although you only got, you know, one year to play with Jaylen Green and Dylan Brooks, what are some of the things that you could take that you learned from them your rookie season heading into your second? Man, I could I can say so much about those two guys. Um, you know, even Jock, I got to be around Jock last year. So, all three of those guys, um, and Cam, I mean, just all four of them were were just so it was so cool for me to watch them, uh, just as a young guy. Um, I mean, they all they all showed up every day ready to practice every game, came out and played hard. I mean, Jaylen did miss a game. Um, and you know, Dylan once he gets on the court, it’s he plays how he plays. So, um, you know, I I learned a lot from from all four of the guys. Thank you.