Reed Sheppard Out for Over 4 Weeks with Thumb Injury; Recently Made History in First NBA Start

Sheppard made history during his first career start earlier this month.

Reed Sheppard was never expected to be this good. As a 4-star recruit, he joined a Kentucky Wildcats team filled with 5-star talent across the roster.

Nonetheless, Sheppard quickly emerged as the team’s primary offensive weapon, catching the attention of NBA scouts. The London (KY) native was selected as the third-overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, becoming the first college player chosen.

Although Sheppard has shown flashes of promise, his rookie season hasn’t been particularly impactful, and the Rockets, who are 4-6 in their last 10 games, have struggled recently, sitting 5th in the Western Conference.

To make matters worse, Sheppard, according to the team’s head coach, will be sidelined for at least four weeks due to a fractured thumb.

Sheppard had just begun to hit his stride. According to OptaSTATS, he became the first player in NBA history to record 25+ points, 5+ assists, 3+ made 3-pointers, and at least three combined steals and blocks in his first career start.

If the Rockets manage a playoff push, Sheppard should be available. However, with the regular season set to end on April 13, this injury could spell the end of Sheppard’s rookie season.

If his season is cut short, Sheppard will finish with averages of 3.9 points per game in 11.9 minutes of play. He shot 33.2% from the field and 27.9% from beyond the arc. The former Kentucky star will surely look to improve on these numbers next season.