The Houston Rockets released their 2025 NBA Summer League roster and schedule, and unsurprisingly, Reed Sheppard is the headliner.
Sheppard was the talk of Summer League in 2024 where he averaged 20 points, 5.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 1.3 blocks in four games. You may recall his performance was enough for TDS’s own Charles Denham to argue that perhaps Reed Sheppard should have been the number one pick in the 2024 draft?
With the trades of Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and Cam Whitmore now official, a spotlight of sorts shines upon Reed Sheppard, as it seems that the Rockets are putting a lot of faith in his ability to contribute off the bench this season. While Kevin Durant is a significant upgrade offensively, he is only one player. The Rockets will need someone else on the roster to help the team improve offensively, and all eyes are on Reed Sheppard, who was drafted to this team to be just that — an offensive boost to the bench. Rockets fans will hope to see an even more polished version of the young sharpshooter in his sophomore season, and Summer League will be our first glimpse.
Fans may also want to take note of the development of N’Faly Dante, who will be on the Summer League roster for the second time. With the resigning of Steven Adams and the acquisition of Clint Capela, the likelihood of Dante making the opening day roster are slim. However, both Capela and Adams have had their fair share of injury issues,and Jock Landale has moved on to sign with the Memphis Grizzlies. If Dante can show significant improvement, he could find himself on the big roster in a pinch, being counted on to give good minutes and key contributions on defense and on the boards.
At the end of the day, Summer League is not going to answer all the questions that remain about these young players, but for basketball junkies like us, it’s the perfect setting to get our hopes up and our dreams even higher. The Rockets first Summer League match will tip off at 9:00 PM CST on Friday, July 11th at the Cox Center in Las Vegas, Nevada versus the Los Angeles Clippers. Catch the games on NBA TV, ESPN 2, or Space City Home Network. Check your local listings.