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Lakers coach JJ Redick praises Houston’s Cam Whitmore, Reed Sheppard

Updated April 12, 2025, 10:37 p.m. by Rockets Wire 1 min read

With seven of their top eight rotation players resting due to their playoff seed being secure, the Houston Rocketsdidn't get the win in Friday's road game against the Los Angeles Lakers.However, two of the team's sparingly used young prospects did take advantage of the suddenly open minutes to make a positive impression.In 37 minutes, second-year guard/forward Cam Whitmore finished with a career-high 34 points and 8 rebounds on 13-of-19 shooting (68.4%), including 7-of-12 from 3-point range (58.3%).Meanwhile, rookie guard Reed Sheppard added 14 points and 5 rebounds on 4-of-8 shooting from behind the 3-point arc (50.0%).In comments on game night, Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised both of the 20-year-old prospects, noting that they would be rotation players or starters on many other teams throughout the NBA.

The Rockets (52-29) are simply an exception due to their depth.Among Redick's comments (via Dave Hardisty, ClutchFans):Both those guys would be rotation players on nearly every team, and potential starters on a lot of teams.

Both really good players.Lakers coach JJ Redick says Rockets players Reed Sheppard and Cam Whitmore would be "rotation players on nearly every team" and "potential starters on a lot of teams." pic.twitter.com/AddovHhlbs ClutchFans (@clutchfans) April 12, 2025Sheppard and Whitmore could get at least one more opportunity for rotation minutes when the Rockets end their 2024-25 regular season on Sunday afternoon versus Denver.

Tipoff from Houston's Toyota Center is at 2:30 p.m.

Central, and the outcome is irrelevant to the Rockets.

Thus, developmental reps could be a priority.While Sheppard and Whitmore are unlikely to feature often in the upcoming 2025 NBA playoffs, they could earn increasingly prominent roles in the 2025-26 season and future years.More: In loss to Lakers, Cam Whitmore fuels short-handed Rockets with career nightThis article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Lakers coach JJ Redick praises Houstons Cam Whitmore, Reed Sheppard.

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