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Rockets guard Reed Sheppard is making positive strides in rehabilitating the right thumb avulsion fracture that he suffered on March 6 versus the New Orleans Pelicans. Houston's top rookie was initially estimated to miss at least four weeks.
"He is in much less pain, at this point," head coach Ime Udoka said before Tuesday's game versus Atlanta. "It's going well. He can take the splint off part-time when he shoots and works out. I think he had a scan two days ago and it showed good calcification of the bone. I think in the next four or five days, we'll hear more and evaluate him from there."
Drafted at No. 3 overall in the 2024 first round, Sheppard has played only sparingly in the 2024-25 season for a deep Houston squad that is highly likely to advance to the NBA's 2025 playoffs. At the moment, the Rockets are 47-26 and No. 2 in the Western Conference standings.
But in a March 3 game with widespread injury absences and an opportunity for more minutes, the 20-year-old Kentucky product flashed his potential with an efficient 25-point, 5-assist night at Oklahoma City.
In recent days, Sheppard started doing some light on-court shooting and related workouts. He has traveled with the Rockets on the road while taking part in various team meetings.
Sheppard's four-week mark arrives in early April, so it's possible he could be cleared to resume playing before Houston's 2024-25 regular season concludes. However, considering his relative inexperience and the lack of playing time he got prior to the injury, it's probably a longshot to expect Sheppard to play significant minutes this season or postseason.
Nonetheless, Sheppard could be a useful depth option near the end of Udoka's bench. And perhaps more importantly, having a healthy thumb on his shooting hand is an essential first step when it comes to skills development during the offseason ahead.
More: Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard to miss at least four weeks with right thumb fracture
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard making progress in thumb injury rehab
Continue reading...
"He is in much less pain, at this point," head coach Ime Udoka said before Tuesday's game versus Atlanta. "It's going well. He can take the splint off part-time when he shoots and works out. I think he had a scan two days ago and it showed good calcification of the bone. I think in the next four or five days, we'll hear more and evaluate him from there."
Drafted at No. 3 overall in the 2024 first round, Sheppard has played only sparingly in the 2024-25 season for a deep Houston squad that is highly likely to advance to the NBA's 2025 playoffs. At the moment, the Rockets are 47-26 and No. 2 in the Western Conference standings.
But in a March 3 game with widespread injury absences and an opportunity for more minutes, the 20-year-old Kentucky product flashed his potential with an efficient 25-point, 5-assist night at Oklahoma City.
In recent days, Sheppard started doing some light on-court shooting and related workouts. He has traveled with the Rockets on the road while taking part in various team meetings.
Sheppard's four-week mark arrives in early April, so it's possible he could be cleared to resume playing before Houston's 2024-25 regular season concludes. However, considering his relative inexperience and the lack of playing time he got prior to the injury, it's probably a longshot to expect Sheppard to play significant minutes this season or postseason.
Nonetheless, Sheppard could be a useful depth option near the end of Udoka's bench. And perhaps more importantly, having a healthy thumb on his shooting hand is an essential first step when it comes to skills development during the offseason ahead.
More: Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard to miss at least four weeks with right thumb fracture
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard making progress in thumb injury rehab
Continue reading...
