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NBA officials expect Reed Sheppard to lead the 2024 class

Posted on by Vaseline
NBA officials expect Reed Sheppard to lead the 2024 class

In an offseason survey of NBA coaches, executives and scouts, Rockets player Reed Sheppard is widely seen as the odds-on favorite to be the best player in his 2024 draft class.

In an offseason survey of NBA coaches, executives and scouts, Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard is widely seen as the favorite to be the top rookie in the 2024 draft class.

ESPN recently surveyed 18 coaches, executives and scouts on a wide range of topics regarding the upcoming 2024-25 season and the next five years of NBA basketball. One of those questions in the survey was: “Who will be the best player in the 2024-25 rookie class five years from now?”

According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Sheppard took home the votes.

“He checked all the boxes,” an Eastern Conference scout told ESPN of Sheppard’s recent play in the 2024 NBA Summer League, where the Kentucky product averaged 20 points and 5.3 assists per game and earned a first-team spot.

Of the 18 voters polled for the “best rookie in five years,” Sheppard had eight votes. The closest player was San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle, who had three.

Interestingly, Sheppard did not win the vote for 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year. However, as ESPN’s Bontemps notes, that distinction is likely due to questions about playing time.

Zach Edey, who is expected to start immediately at center in Memphis, received eight of the 18 Rookie of the Year votes. Sheppard finished second with five votes, as there are questions about how much Sheppard will play in 2024-25 given Houston’s returning backcourt of Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Cam Whitmore and Aaron Holiday.

You can read the full ESPN investigation here.

More: NBA names Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard to All-Summer League First Team

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