Trae Young, a three-time All-Star with the Atlanta Hawks, openly admired Rockets guard Reed Sheppard during the Houston rookie’s sensational debut at the NBA’s 2024 summer league.
Now, nearly a month later, Young is doubling down on that praise in a new episode of “Podcast P” (presented by Wave Sports + Entertainment and hosted by longtime NBA superstar Paul George).
Here’s what Young said while commenting on the league’s 2024 rookie class, as captured by Chris Gorman:
Reed [Sheppard]… is gonna be a hell of an NBA player.
Young’s full comments on this year’s rookie class can be read here, and the complete George-Young podcast can be viewed below.
"Whether it's Reed, whose gonna be a hell of an NBA player…."
– Trae Young👀#Rockets pic.twitter.com/JP98frX0w0
— Chris Gorman (@GormanChristoph) August 12, 2024
As for Sheppard, the No. 3 overall draft pick in the 2024 first round, he averaged a team-high 20.0 points (50.0% shooting), 5.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.8 steals in four summer-league games.
In his 2024-25 rookie season, Sheppard will compete for minutes in Houston’s backcourt behind incumbent starters Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green. Other reserve options for those minutes are likely to include Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore, and Aaron Holiday.
