The Las Vegas side of the 2025 NBA Summer League is here, and things haven't gone that well for the Houston Rockets so far. Following Sunday's 98-83 loss to the Detroit Pistons, the Rockets have dropped to 0-2 on the summertime slate, highlighting the need for Houston's up-and-comers to step up if they want fans to feel confident about the franchise's future.
Several Rockets' performances caught fans' attention in the latest loss, including Reed Sheppard's showing. The former 2024 third-overall selection recorded a team-high 18 points while forgettably shooting 6-of-19 (31.6%) from the floor; however, it wasn't what he did with the basketball that garnered attention across social media.
Sheppard was mic'd up throughout the Summer League contest, and something he said not only caught Rockets fans' eyes, but also those of his newest teammate.
Rockets' Reed Sheppard Grabs Kevin Durant's Attention with Latest Summer League Outing
Donning a live microphone, Sheppard garnered plenty of online attention with a quote he said after making a three-point shot in the second quarter.
"I wouldn't leave me open," the former Kentucky product shouted at the Pistons. "I wouldn't do that one."
While it's always admirable to see a player playing confidently, Sheppard's remarks understandably ruffled some feathers on both sides of the equation. Pistons fans weren't thrilled with the early trash talk, whereas some Rockets supporters were frustrated that Sheppard didn't sink another three-pointer after making that shot, and finished the night 1-of-7 from beyond the arc.
Despite not having the most efficient performance, the London, KY native's attitude was enough to grab Kevin Durant's attention.
As X user @TexansJacob pointed out, Durant liked the Rockets' Instagram post highlighting Sheppard's trash talk. Whether or not liking the post means the former NBA MVP is "ready to share the floor" with the recent top-three pick remains to be seen, but it's clear that Sheppard at least has his new teammate's attention.
Kevin Durant ready to share the floor with Reed Sheppard it seems 👀 pic.twitter.com/uZqxlTIH0z
— Jacob (@TexansJacob) July 14, 2025
Rockets fans are hoping to see Sheppard's development take another step as he enters Year 2 of his NBA career. The 6-foot-2 guard's rookie campaign was largely forgettable as he averaged 4.4 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.7 steals, and .351/.338/.813 shooting splits in 52 games (3 starts) — far from the type of performance Houston expected after drafting him that early.
Hopefully, the Rockets' offseason moves help bring out the best in Sheppard. In addition to trading for Durant, general manager Rafael Stone also brought in the likes of Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela to help bolster the returning core. If Sheppard can take that next leap, the unit could be an even bigger championship threat.
Even if his latest performance didn't result in a win, Sheppard must continue to play confidently throughout the NBA Summer League. Not only might his roster hopes depend on it, but so could the Rockets' odds of making some major noise next postseason.