Cam Whitmore beats out Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard in Rockets’ 3-point contest
At Sunday’s open practice in front of home fans at Toyota Center, the Houston Rockets had three of their best young shooters — rookie guard Reed Sheppard, second-year guard/forward Cam Whitmore, and third-year forward Jabari Smith Jr. — take part in a 3-point shootout.
Whitmore shot 35.9% on 3-pointers in the NBA last season, while Smith was a touch higher at 36.3%. Sheppard shot a blistering 52.1% on 3-pointers as a college player at Kentucky, though that was with the NCAA’s slightly shorter 3-point line.
Based on those numbers and the pre-draft scouting reports, you might expect the order of results to go Sheppard, Smith, and then Whitmore. All were widely viewed as good shooters entering the NBA, of course, but it was Sheppard and Smith who were most renowned for their long-distance shooting. Whitmore, while a capable shooter, was known best for his blend of elite athleticism, length, and power.
But as it turns out, it was Whitmore who was best on this day, followed by Smith. Sheppard — who, unlike the other two, has yet to play in an NBA game at Toyota Center — came in last. Perhaps that lack of experience with the arena’s backdrop played a role, or maybe it was just the randomness of a small sample.
Whatever the case, courtesy of Jackson Gatlin of Locked on Rockets, we have full footage below. As a player, Sheppard will make his Toyota Center debut in Tuesday’s home exhibition versus New Orleans, which tips off at 7:00 p.m. Central. It will be televised on Space City Home Network and via NBA League Pass.
