Reed Sheppard receives Sixth Man of the Year award consideration

NBA insiders polled by ESPN have identified Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard as a front-runner for the Sixth Man of the Year award heading into the 2026-27 season. The second-year guard was voted the fourth-most likely player to win the honor, trailing Western Conference guards Alex Caruso, Dylan Harper, and Ajay Mitchell. Sheppard finished the previous campaign with averages of 13.5 points, 3.4 assists, and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 43 percent from the field. Coach Ime Udoka plans to utilize Sheppard as a leader of the second unit, a role bolstered by the return of Fred VanVleet and the acquisition of Marcus Smart. As an off-ball scorer, Sheppard faces competition from established veterans within the league. The Rockets also feature Amen Thompson, who received recognition in the same poll as a candidate for the Defensive Player of the Year award.

• 5:03 PMYahoo Sports — Houston Rockets guard listed among top Sixth Man of the Year candidates