Sheppard did not appear rattled. Even on his first defensive possession, when Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson went at him one-on-one, Sheppard came up with the strip. Offensively, he effectively maneuvered around screens to mid-range shots against the Thunder, showing few signs of the rookie nerves he said he felt at first in Salt Lake City. “It’s the NBA. I’ve never played in the NBA before, so you know, the whole year will be a learning experience,” Sheppard said. “Every game you play, you learn something new. So, just watching film, getting in the gym, working on everything, working on the overall game, and just becoming the best player and teammate you can be.