NBA Execs Vote Reed Sheppard to Win ROY Award over Zach Edey; Risacher 1 Vote, Sarr 0

The impressive showcase by Houston Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard during Summer League has some around the NBA believing he's set for a big year in his first season.

ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo polled a group of league executives on who will be this season's Rookie of the Year, and Sheppard beat out the rest of the field with seven votes. It was noted that the former Kentucky sharpshooter was "likely also a beneficiary of summer league bias."

In four Summer League games, Sheppard averaged 20.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.8 steals while shooting 50.0 percent from the field. The 2024 No. 3 pick established himself as an early contender for the biggest steal of the draft.

Sheppard is joining a talented Rockets backcourt that includes Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green, but he will likely still have the opportunity to be a key contributor. Givony and Woo pointed out that "there's an increasing notion that the Rockets will have to find him the level of playing time necessary to contend for NBA Rookie of the Year."

The rest of the poll produced some interesting results, as Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey finished second behind Sheppard with four votes. 2024 No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks earned just one vote, and No. 2 pick Alex Sarr of the Washington Wizards didn't receive any votes.

Execs highlighted Edey because he will likely have the opportunity to see immediate playing time and a major role in Memphis.

"I was at the Utah Summer League and was so impressed by how much [Edey's] game translates," one voter said. "He's in incredible shape and is going to be such a weapon in pick-and-roll with NBA spacing with the way he catches and finishes. He's way more athletic than people realize, and his sheer will is going to get him a bunch of 20-plus-10 outings before New Year's, is my prediction. There's not really another true center on the Grizzlies roster to compete with him for playing time."