“We had a dinner last night where we got to meet the family,” Udoka said. “Stacey said it a few times: ‘You can’t be soft.’ That’s why I chuckled. I know he’s heard it his whole life. I heard it about five times last night. It’s something I know I don’t have to say to him. If he gets soft, I just have to call Mom.” “I think it goes back to all the trips that Reed and I had in the car, driving back and forth to AAU tournaments,” she said. “We would break down and dissect everything that happened during the six games in two days they play, how you go from offense to defense, how you prepare mentally when you step on the court. That was our trips — about how to do this better or that better.” “I learned so much from my parents, more Mom than Dad,” Sheppard said. “They were both really big on the whole basketball journey. The biggest thing they taught was just work hard, compete, don’t let anyone outwork you. It doesn’t matter if something hurts. You go out; you fight through it. You can’t be soft. That was one of Dad’s — Mom and Dad’s — biggest words. You can’t be soft. “With the IQ stuff, a lot of that is from Mom, so I thank her for that. I’ve very thankful for both of them through the whole journey. They had my back through it all.” … “As far as the pressure, I think it’s just basketball,” Sheppard said. “I love the game of basketball. I love competing. I love playing. I love getting close with my teammates on and off the court. “The pressure part, yeah, it’s there. But it’s there a lot more if you’re worried about it, worry about what people are saying. (It's about) just going out, playing the game you love, having fun, waking every day with gratitude and being thankful for where you are and the position you’re in, and going out and competing.”
Loved all of what you posted, kid has a good head on his shoulders so to speak, I like the whole not being soft, clearly his parents, mainly his Mom, was the biggest helper giving advice, it hits home to me, when I was around 4yrs old my parents split up, my Dad was still there, but it was my Mom who taught me, told me everything, the whole sex talk, everything, I’ve learned so much from her, my Dad ended up being a good Dad, but he neglected me as a child but he redeemed himself in my eyes, he was always there whenever me, my sister & my Mom needed help, & vice versa. Anyway, can’t wait to see Reed on the court in a Rockets uniform, so excited we drafted him instead of trading the pick.
TBF, did Nash have that when he was drafted or did he develop those after a few years in the league? Not saying he will become Nash, but even becoming a poor man's Nash would be a huge boon for this team.
I'm so happy and excited that we drafted this kid. He said all the right things, and it all came across as genuine. There are four players - if I am not mistaken - whom Ime praised for their IQ: Alpi, Amen, Fred and now Reed. (Basketball) IQ matters so much.
I’d be pleasantly surprised if he makes an impact next year. With his shooting though, it is possible. I do think he and Amen will have the PG duties more than covered in the future.
If the Rockets had had Price on the squad back then they would have won a championship. Always loved his game.
He has about the best chance in the NBA in being the next guy to join the 50-40-90 club. I'll say by year 4 he makes it.
