Reed Sheppard knows exactly where his offseason work needs to start.
For a Rockets team that needs more from its young core if it wants to be a real factor next season, that matters. Sheppard, heading into his third year, appears to have the right focus after saying, "The biggest thing would be just trying to get stronger, be in the weight room."
That’s not just lip service. Sheppard has been working out with Kevin Durant in Cali as part of that push, and the message from Houston’s young guard is clear: the next step begins with adding strength.
For Sheppard, that’s the most obvious place to attack. He entered the league as a small guard, and last season that showed up in the areas that usually expose lighter players first. He had trouble defending consistently and also struggled to get to his spots inside the arc because he simply didn’t have the physical base to hold up.
Houston is running it back with much of the same roster, which keeps the group familiar but also puts the burden on internal improvement. In Sheppard’s case, the Rockets need him to add size and become harder to move on both ends.
The shooting touch is already there. Last season, Sheppard hit 39% from three-point range on 7 attempts per game, a mark matched by only 10 players across the league.
That kind of spacing is real value. But even with Fred VanVleet injured for the entire season, Sheppard still started only 21 games, and his lack of strength was a big reason he couldn’t carve out a larger role.
The defensive side of the equation is easy to see. Sheppard’s frame made him a target, even against other small guards.
VanVleet is a useful comparison: he’s listed at 6'0", two inches shorter than Sheppard, yet he’s the sturdier defender because of his build. Fred is listed at around 200lbs, while Sheppard is just 185lbs, and that difference shows up when possessions get physical.
The offensive impact goes beyond just finishing, too. Sheppard shot 49% on his 2-pointers last season, which is not enough for a guard trying to expand his role.
In the playoffs, that issue got even louder. Against the Lakers in the Rockets’ first-round series, he shot just 32% from 2-point range and 30% from three-point range.
The added physicality of postseason basketball clearly bothered him, and it affected both his rim finishing and his outside shot.
That’s why this summer matters so much. If Sheppard can come back stronger, the payoff should show up everywhere: better defense, more reliable scoring, and a game that holds up when the games tighten in May. The Rockets want to chase bigger things next season, and Sheppard’s path to helping them starts with the work he’s already talking about.
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