Reed Sheppard’s transformation with the Houston Rockets has been as dramatic as it is inspiring, and according to insiders, Kevin Durant played a pivotal role in helping the young guard regain his confidence.

On Oct. 24, Sheppard had just endured a rough outing in a home loss to Detroit, scoring only nine points on 3-for-11 shooting while committing three turnovers.

Forty-five minutes later, he trudged into Houston’s locker room, head down and visibly frustrated. The promising guard looked anything but the confident scorer the Rockets had hoped to see during training camp.

But Durant, sensing the moment, didn’t need a formal conversation or a lengthy lecture. Sitting at his locker, the superstar approached Sheppard and said:

“Two down, we got 80 more.”

It was a brief but impactful mes

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