The Rockets found the "Splash Brothers" in Shepard s game against the Wizards

According to US sports media F/W analyst Chaitanya Dadwal, in the Rockets' recent 135-112 victory over the Wizards, their second-year point guard Reed Shepard's step-back three-pointer went viral because it looked a lot like the combination of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in their prime. Shepard finished with 21 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block. He filled the paint and scored efficiently, shooting 72.7% (8-for-8) from the field and 62.5% (5-for-8) from the three-point line. NBA fans are excited to see the promising point guard get valuable playing time and show elite similarities to the Warriors' former "Splash Brother."

Shepard may not have achieved all of his goals as a rookie as he spent a lot of time on the bench. But he did establish himself as a big part of the Rockets' future, playing just 10 games into his sophomore season. The point guard out of Kentucky has had a stellar start to the season despite coming off the bench for the Rockets. He has now put himself on track to become the team's starting point guard of the future. Shepard earned the nickname "Cocaine Curry" among Rockets fans early in his career. So seeing his similarities to Curry and Thompson is also an exciting time for fans who saw his potential early on.

But let's go back to Earth and look at it from a hasty comparison perspective. Sheppard has only averaged 12.2 points, 3.2 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game so far this season. He shot 50% from three-point range in the first 10 games. He has not even received a starting position on the coaching staff because he only played 22 minutes a night. At the same time, in the first 10 games of his sophomore season (2010-11), Curry averaged 20.4 points, 6.3 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game while shooting 46.3% from three-point range while playing 34 minutes a night as a starter. Likewise, Klay Thompson is averaging 10 points, 2,012 rebounds and 13 assists in the first 2.2 games of his sophomore season (14.0-4.3) while also playing 33 minutes a night.

I know that the Warriors' offense is built around these two players; at the same time, Shepard may be their fifth option in the Rockets offense. Therefore, the comparison is completely different. However, until he earns Udoka's trust, his progress toward becoming an elite player like Curry or Thompson will be hindered. But I have every confidence that Udoka will find the perfect role for Shepard and carve out his own path to greatness with the Rockets. There's a reason Durant keeps praising his young teammates.

Of course, one shot doesn't really endear him to Curry or Thompson, but there's no denying that Shepard is part of what makes the Rockets the team worth watching right now. Doing this consistently every night will get Shepard close to how good those future Hall of Famers are or were in their prime. So, while it's tempting in my heart to say they've found the next Curry or Thompson, I don't believe Shepard will be able to match their elite level before becoming the Rockets' starter. What do you think?