Ime Udoka addresses Reed Sheppard’s Role, Development, Minutes & the NBA Tanking Debate
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka opens up about rookie guard Reed Sheppard — discussing his improvement, evolving role, playing time, and how the team views his development moving forward.
Udoka also tackles one of the hottest topics around the NBA: tanking. Is it real? How do teams balance development, winning, and draft positioning?
If you’re a Rockets fan or following Sheppard’s rise, this conversation gives insight into what the coaching staff is seeing behind the scenes.
🎙️ From Kickin’ it with Kunkel — Houston sports conversation you won’t hear anywhere else.
#NBA #HOUSTON #Rockets
20 Comments
Good stuff.
Reed should be starting PG, let Amen play 2 guard
Rockets going on a losing streak 😂😂
Yes it was against the Wizards. But Reed did a good impression of John Stockton with his 10 assists night performance. Definitely need more playing time. Really want to Jabari at the 5, Senguin at the 4 and Reed at the 1.
Based on how he described Reed and compared his play to what FVV brought for us — then there's literally no reason for him not to start.
Start the man
we dont need defensive from reed we need much more offense. our offense dead last in the league, we just cant score
Reed is not a PG. he’s a shooting guard. Just because he’s 6’1, doesn’t make him a PG
Udoka doesn’t trust the bench. He plays the starters heavy minutes instead of utilizing his bench more
Ime sounds like he does not really want Shepard starting. But I hope management makes him start Shepard or Ime might lose his job. 😊
"Reed is very important on what we are doing, so I'm gonna keep him off the bench with lesser minutes" HAHAHAHA just kdding
Rockets got Mark Price with hops!
love it! just picked him up on fantasy so lets go!
Sorry, but I am begging to think that Udoka is racist.
Pray for a new Head Coach that is smarter and has so many play calls. Joe Mazzulla is amazing in drawing plays in Boston since Ime Udoka got Fired. Ime Udoka is terrible in drawing up plays.
Tari Eason needs to come off the bench. His injury will creep up again.
Like Matan says – Name 10 books. Ask Ime Udoka name 10 plays on offense and defense.
I wholeheartedly agree but give him some development time; give him some time to ease into that role. I agree with Imes position in giving Reed that transitional progression opportunity.
Rockets GM has that losing mentality. Shame.
he's right, they are winning games but not contender type wins