NEW YORK — With the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Houston Rockets picked Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard, adding an elite long-range shooter to their young team.
Houston held the third pick thanks to the James Harden trade with the Brooklyn Nets and some luck in the NBA Draft Lottery a couple of months ago.
Sheppard spent one season at Kentucky and was the first American taken in this year's draft after French players Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr were selected by Atlanta and Washington with the top two picks.
Sheppard averaged 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.5 steals while appearing in 33 games for the Wildcats. He shot 52.1% from 3-point range and made 83.1% of his free throws. He was the only player in the nation last season to have at least 145 assists, 80 steals and make at least 75 3-pointers.
Sheppard became the second player in school history to have at least 80 steals in a season despite starting just five games. It’s the 17th consecutive year that Kentucky has had at least one player selected in the NBA draft.
At 6-foot-2 and 182 pounds, Sheppard is among the smallest players in this year's draft but is also thought by many draft analysts to be the best shooter. He turned 20 on Monday.
The Rockets missed the playoffs for a fourth straight season this year but made a significant jump in their first year under coach Ime Udoka after adding veterans Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet. Houston went 41-41 after winning just 17, 20 and 22 games in the previous three seasons.
Sheppard is the latest high draft pick to join the rebuilding Rockets in recent years. They took Amen Thompson fourth last year after adding Jabari Smith Jr. with the third pick in 2022 and Jalen Green second in 2021.
The Rockets also hold the 14th pick in the second round this year.
