Rockets’ Ime Udoka reveals biggest secret behind Reed Sheppard’s breakout isn’t his bucket-getting

The Houston Rockets pushed deeper into the NBA Cup chase on a night when Reed Sheppard’s career-high became the clearest sign yet of his breakout and shifted his team’s momentum. But Ime Udoka insisted the real story for the Rockets wasn’t the scoring. It was everything wrapped around it: the steadiness, the defense, and the way Sheppard held the game together when Houston needed a pulse.

Ime Udoka didn’t just praise the numbers; he praised the control that now shapes the Rockets’ backcourt. He highlighted Reed Sheppard’s jump from last season’s 4.4 points on 35.1 percent shooting to 14.3 points on 48.8 percent and a scorching 45.5 percent from three. His 2.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.6 steals have nearly doubled across the board. Yet Udoka pushed attention toward the end that doesn’t always show up in the Rockets’ highlight reels. “Offensively he’s making shots, but defensively he’s shown the most improvement… taking on challenges and limiting blowbys,” Udoka said.

And then he made the part that mattered most unmistakable: “Reed really held us together when guys were struggling… his baskets were needed, especially early and late.”

Udoka’s message to the Rockets after Sheppard’s NBA Cup career-high

Ime Udoka used the night to highlight Houston’s identity. The Rockets were without Kevin Durant and Steven Adams. Yet he praised a supporting cast that stepped into bigger roles. “Our depth is there… different guys coming in and contributing,” he said. He pointed to Clint Capela’s eight offensive rebounds and Aaron Holiday’s steady energy. The message was simple: Houston wins when every player leans into the work.

Reed Sheppard embraced that weight for the Rockets. The atmosphere felt heavier in NBA Cup play, but he didn’t shrink from it. He steadied possessions and pressured ballhandlers. He made timely reads that stalled Warriors runs. His impact carried a calmness that spread through the Rockets.

For a Rockets group trying to rise in the West, Reed Sheppard’s breakout feels less like a moment and more like a foundation. It leaves fans wondering what comes next. If this is his breakout now, what does the next step look like under brighter lights?

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