WASHINGTON D.C. (SportsRadio 610)- Reed Sheppard was one of the first two Rockets subbed in on opening night, but as the season wore on Sheppard's minutes waned, and on Monday, the Rockets assigned him to the Rockets G League affiliate in Rio Grande Valley.
"This is good for his development," Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said before Tuesday's game against the Washington Wizards.
"Being there and giving him a good 20-25 game look, saw some things he needed to work on. Once we started going with the more veteran rotation, Aaron (Holiday), Jae'Sean (Tate), when we had the injuries."
In 30 games this season, the third pick of June's draft is averaging 3.3 points on 32.2 percent shooting, while converting on just 27.9 percent of his three-point attempts. After playing in the first 24 games of the season, Sheppard has appeared in just six of the last 11 games, mostly in garbage time.
"It's good to get him live action instead of spot minutes here and there," Udoka said.
Sheppard left Houston on Monday with a checklist of things to work on while with Joseph Blair and the rest of the Vipers coaching staff.
"Run the team, play on and off ball like he like he's done in the past," Udoka said. "Get his confidence up, get his shot up, shot making and shot creating for everyone else, so a little bit of both."
Sheppard made eight threes on his way to a 49-point night against the Oklahoma City Blue on Tuesday night, and news of his big night made its way to the Rockets locker room in Washington after a 135-112 win over the Wizards with teammates excitedly watching highlights on their phones.
Udoka did not reveal how much time the Rockets want Sheppard to spend in the G League, but when asked if he expects the rookie guard to play meaningful minutes for the Rockets this season, Udoka was blunt.
"Yeah. Definitely," he said.