NBA GMs vote Reed Sheppard as favorite for Rookie of the Year: Kentucky star on the rise

In an annual poll conducted every year by the NBA, general managers predicted that the Rookie of the Year award would go to former Kentucky star, Reed Sheppard, receiving 50% of the votes. In that same poll, he was also selected as the player who would remain the best player in his draft class five years from now.

Sheppard was drafted third overall by the Houston Rockets and has impressed his team in early reports. The first preseason game for Sheppard was a bit underwhelming. He came off the bench and played 20 minutes, shooting 2-7 from the floor and 0-4 from deep. He filled up the stat sheet, though, with 4 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal.

NBA General Managers are high on Sheppard because, while he has a natural knack for making baskets, he affects the game in so many ways. He fills up the stat sheets on both the defensive and offensive ends. Even though he didn't convert any three-pointers in the Rockets' first preseason game of the year, he is a big threat from deep.

He's getting high praise around the league. Even one NBA analyst, Tom Haberstroh, compared him to Steph Curry because of his ability to fill up the stat sheets and create his own shot. This is very high praise, as Curry is one of the best NBA players of the last few decades.

Sheppard ended that polling with 50% of the vote, the next closest was Zach Edey of the Memphis Grizzlies who came in at 30%, followed by Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs with 13%.

In question, "Who will be the best from this rookie class in 5 years?" question. Sheppard came in at 43%, Castle at 17%, and Zaccarie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks at 13%.

The NBA season begins on October 22 and in the meantime the best place to watch the former Wildcats star is in the NBA preseason with his game tonight (October 9) at 8pm EST against the Oklahoma City Thunder.