As a relatively undersized guard, Reed Sheppard is enjoying a second-year breakthrough with the 2025-26 Houston Rockets.

So, it might not come as a surprise to learn who the 21-year-old Kentucky product looked up to, as he developed some of those crafty on-court traits.

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Speaking on a newly released podcast episode of The Young Man and The Three, Sheppard was asked about his childhood and whether closely watched or modeled his game around any NBA players.

Sheppard replied:

Chris Paul has always been one of my favorite players. Just the way he can control the game with his pace.

I like watching the way he moves, and the reads he makes. I’ve always been a fan.

Despite standing at just 6-foot-0, Paul used a unique and blend of court vision, shooting, and savvy to become a 12-time NBA All-Star and a future Hall of Famer. One of his best years was with the 2017-18 Houston Rockets, who finished with the best regular-season record (65-17) in franchise history.

Sheppard knows he has a long way to go, as a player, to come anywhere close to that resume. But as a developing prospect, it’s certainly not a bad archetype to try and take pointers from.

This season, Sheppard enters Thursday averaging 12.9 points, 3.1 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in 25.2 minutes per game while shooting 43.7% on 3-pointers.

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He’s posting those numbers while playing a key rotation role for the Rockets (16-7), who view themselves among the top tier of Western Conference contenders.

As for Paul, now 40 years old, he’s currently searching for his next (and final) NBA home. It appears unlikely for that to be Houston, since the Rockets already have at least two accomplished backups at point guard — Sheppard and Aaron Holiday — on their 2025-26 roster.

Yet, Paul’s influence is likely to be felt around the Rockets, no matter what.

Just ask Sheppard.

More: ‘Can flip a game’: Nuggets marvel at young Rockets guard Reed Sheppard

This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: In developmental years, Rockets guard Reed Sheppard studied Chris Paul