Houston Rockets depth chart for 2024-25 NBA season after drafting Reed Sheppard

The Houston Rockets shored up their backcourt by selecting Reed Sheppard out of Kentucky third overall in the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday. By choosing the 6 ft. 2 player, they got a solid two-way combo guard who should fit well as an understudy to the team's resident stars.

Sheppard averaged 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.1 assists and 2.5 steals in 28.9 minutes of play in 33 games in his lone season with the Wildcats. He is expected to back up high-flying Jalen Green at the two spot for Houston while also seeing action at the point guard position at times.

The Houston Rockets are expected to continue making offseason moves in the hopes of improving on their 41-41 record in the just-concluded season. While their core may stay intact, the supporting cast could still change right before the 2024-25 season tips off.

Houston Rockets depth chart for next season

Reed Sheppard is seen to have an impact on his first year with the Rockets, but the heavy lifting will still fall on the shoulders of stars Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Fred VanVleet and Jabari Smith Jr. It is a situation that is not at all bad for Houston since it did relatively well under such a setup in its last campaign.

VanVleet and Green should continue to start in the guard posts, with Amen Thompson, Sheppard, Cam Whitmore and Aaron Holiday providing help from the bench.

Dillon Brooks and Smith should banner the Rockets' small and power forward positions. Reggie Bullock Jr., Tari Eason, Jeff Green, and Jae'Sean Tate are expected to backstop them.

At center, it is Sengun who is the main man, with Steven Adams and Jock Landale giving him a spell.

Rockets depth chart for the 2024-25 campaign

Position	Player
PG	Fred VanVleet
PG	Amen Thompson
PG	Aaron Holiday
SG	Jalen Green
SG	Reed Sheppard
SG	Cam Whitmore
SF	Dillon Brooks
SF	Reggie Bullock Jr.
PF	Jabari Smith Jr.
PF	Tari Eason
PF	Jeff Green
PF	Jae'Sean Tate
C	Alperen Sengun
C	Steven Adams
C	Jock Landale

Reed Sheppard excited to be part of the Houston Rockets

Former Kentucky standout Reed Sheppard is excited to be selected third overall by the Houston Rockets in the 2024 NBA Draft and cannot wait to start his professional journey with the team.

Reed, 20, starred for the Wildcats for one season, where he won the Freshman of the Year award after averaging 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.1 assists and 2.5 steals in 28.9 minutes of play in 33 games.

His stats impressed several NBA teams, including the Rockets, who he believes is perfect for him.

He shared his thoughts on being selected by Houston, saying:

"I'm super excited. They have a really good thing going in Houston. The coach is really good. They have a bunch of really young, athletic guys, and we'll be able to play fast. It was a dream come true. It is something that I've been dreaming of since I've been a little kid."

Adding:

"I am going in with an open mind, ready to learn, ready to do whatever it takes to win... I can't wait to get to Houston and get the thing started."

In Houston, Sheppard joins a team that made a 19-game improvement with a 41-41 record in the just-concluded season from the previous year's 22-60 card.