Q&A With Reed Sheppard

W hat is a memorable experience or adventure you have had since joining the Rockets? I think the most exciting thing for me and my family was the first day that we came in for the press conference and the Rockets staff and everyone was there waiting on us walking into the arena. That was a really cool moment for me and my family.

How has your life changed over the past few years?

A year ago, I was just graduating high school and now I’m here living by myself in Houston. It is a lot different. I’m excited. It’s going to be a lot of fun, but it is different. I’ll be by myself, I won’t have my family and my friends. Everything is going to be new, but I’m looking forward to it.

Who has been your biggest mentor or influence during your basketball journey and how have they impacted your career?

My dad (Jeff Sheppard). He was always my coach growing up. He was the only person I worked out with and he has always had my back whether it’s on the court or off the court. He’s always someone I can call and talk to. He means a lot to me, and I’m glad I’m able to wear number 15 after him.

What role does your family play in your career and how do they support you through tough times and good times?

My mom and my dad mean the world to me. They have been there with me everywhere. They took me to basketball games since I was young, they have done everything for me. I can call my mom at any time of the day, and she will answer on the first ring. She is going to always have my back no matter what. I am very thankful for them and can count on them for anything.

How do you like to spend your free time when you are not playing basketball?

I love being outdoors. I love spending time with my friends and my family and just doing whatever I can to be outside and enjoy the nature.

What does a normal day in the offseason look like for you?

I’ll wake up in the morning, get some breakfast. I’ll head to the gym, get a workout in, get a lift in and I’ll go back to my place and hang out and do whatever that is – whether that’s go outside or just hang out in the house. Later that day, I’ll go back and get some shots up, get some dinner and maybe watch a movie. That will be a normal day in the offseason.

What excites you most about playing in the NBA and being with the Rockets?

I think just learning the new ways of being in the NBA and being with such a great franchise. Getting closer with all the coaches and my new teammates and everyone in the organization. Living in a new and big city like Houston will be really fun, and I’m really looking forward to it.

What personal goals do you have for yourself for your rookie season both on and off the court?

I think on and off the court, just learn as much as I can. This will be my first time living by myself, so I’ll have to learn different things and figure out how different things work. On the court, I’ll have really good vets that I will playing with, so learning as much as I can and just trying to take in everything and become the best player and the best person I can be.

Have you given thought to anything you want to be involved with community wise or organizations you are interested in working with in the future?

I definitely want to eventually have my own foundation. My mom had breast cancer, so I think doing something and giving back to breast cancer awareness would be something I really want to do. There are some other things that are out there that I haven’t really thought about too much, but I can see myself getting into. I would love to do something with the Special Olympics one day and just stuff like that. I think there’s a lot of things out there that I could get involved with.