Houston Rockets rookie guard Reed Sheppard will miss at the very least 4 weeks after fracturing his proper thumb, head coach Ime Udoka introduced on Saturday. Ukoda stated Sheppard injured the highest of his thumb and never the decrease portion, which is a “higher final result.”
Houston Rockets’ Reed Sheppard Suffered His Thumb Fracture In Thursday’s Victory Over The New Orleans Pelicans
Udoka additionally added that Sheppard will probably be in a splint for about 4 weeks as he recovers from the harm that occurred in Houston’s 109-97 win in opposition to the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night time. It appeared that Sheppard sustained the harm when he slapped down on the ball on a foul on Zion Williamson.
Sheppard, 20, was chosen No. 3 general by the Rockets within the 2024 NBA draft out of the College of Kentucky. In 45 video games (one begin) with Houston, he’s averaged 3.9 factors, 1.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 11.9 minutes per contest whereas capturing 33.2% from the sphere and 81.3% on the free throw line.
#Rockets vs Pelicans at 5:30PM on SCHN
Earlier than the sport Ime Udoka had updates on Fred VanVleet (out – proper ankle pressure) & Reed Sheppard (out – proper thumb avulsion fracture)@HoustonRockets I #Liftoff pic.twitter.com/z0jA7s3FRZ
— House Metropolis Dwelling Community (@SpaceCityHN) March 8, 2025
In Houston’s 137-128 loss to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Monday night time, he recorded a career-high 25 factors on 10-of-17 (58.8%) capturing from the ground and 3-of-7 (42.9%) from 3-point vary.
Sheppard’s absence offers Cam Whitmore, Jae’Sean Tate, and Aaron Vacation the chance to earn extra minutes and an even bigger position off the Rockets’ bench over the subsequent month.
Sheppard Joined Tyrese Haliburton, Stephen Curry For An NCAA Division I Report Throughout His Freshman Season
As for his NCAA profession, the Kentucky native averaged 12.5 factors, 4.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and a couple of.5 steals in 33 video games performed with the Wildcats, whereas capturing 53.6% from the sphere, 52.1% from deep, and 83.1% on the foul line.
Sheppard was an early entry candidate following his freshman season at Kentucky. He was named Nationwide Freshman of the Yr by the Nationwide Affiliation of Basketball Coaches and the U.S. Basketball Writers Affiliation, along with incomes All-America Honorable Point out by The Related Press.
The 6-foot-2 Sheppard ranked eighth within the nation in steals per recreation and first general in 3-point share with a minimal of 30 makes an attempt. He additionally completed fifth in assists (148).
Relationship again to 2001-02, Sheppard joined Tyrese Haliburton and Stephen Curry as the one Division I gamers to have averaged at the very least 16 factors, 5.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 2.5 steals, and a couple of.5 made 3-pointers per 40 minutes performed in a season with a real capturing share of 60% or higher.
Moreover, Sheppard was the third Division I freshman to have logged at the very least 80 steals and 75 made 3-pointers in a single season. He led the SEC in true capturing share (69.9%) as properly.
