The Houston Rockets are off to a mixed start in 2024-25. One constant has been the play of returning third-year Rockets player Tari Eason. He may not have the theoretical potential of some other recent Rockets draft picks, but Houston’s opponents are going to see a lot of Eason this season, and they probably won’t enjoy it. Houston fans, on the other hand, will love every second of it.
Rockets’ Eason: No Easing In Required
Eason was the Rockets’ 17th pick in the 2022 draft. After an encouraging rookie season noted for his defense, for which he received All-Rookie Second Team honors, he was sidelined by injury for most of his sophomore campaign. Eason averaged 9.8 points and 7.0 rebounds in 2023-24 but played only 22 games.
Technically, he was eased in a little this season, with limited preseason play and under 13 minutes in the Rockets’ first game against the Hornets. But since then, Eason has been one of the team’s key contributors off the bench. It may come as no surprise that head coach Ime Udoka prefers the defensively rather than offensively-oriented players off his bench. Of course, his theoretical scoring options haven’t started the season scorching the nets.
Cam Whitmore finally made his first three-pointer of the season against the Dallas Mavericks in the fifth game. His shot should come around as the season progresses, but if he isn’t shooting well, then as good of a finisher as he is, he doesn’t offer much improvement in that regard over Eason. Eason might miss a few more easy ones at the rim, but that’s just to invoke the spirit of Moses Malone so he can consume the offensive rebound.
The other nominal scorer coming off the bench for the Rockets is rookie Reed Sheppard. He’s looked overly cautious to start the season, but an adjustment period is to be expected. A surprising amount of his time on the floor being shared with fellow point guard Fred VanVleet might not help matters.
How Eason’s Playstyle Fits Houston’s Culture
Meanwhile, overly cautious certainly isn’t a way anyone would ever describe Eason. Eason missed most of last season. During the games he played, however, he was a leading contributor to the Rockets’s tendency to get blocked a lot. That isn’t strictly a bad thing though. Eason has an attacking mindset. The most impressive part of Eason’s game is how he’s able to maintain that attacking mindset while playing within the team. It’s exactly the brand of basketball that Udoka wants Houston to play.
It helps Eason that his role is simplified compared with some other players. Eason isn’t necessarily expected to score. He’s expected to go out there, cut off the ball, play hard, be aggressive, and, should scoring opportunities present themselves, pursue them vigorously.
This opportunistic quality of his game is reflected in his points and shot attempts. Sometimes the opportunities are there, sometimes they aren’t. Sometimes they’re there and then get snatched away at the last second by a shot-blocker. And sometimes, it has to be said, the opportunity is there, but the shot won’t go down.
Eason hasn’t exactly established himself as a knockdown shooter so far. For his career, he has connected on 34.8% from three-point range. That lack of shooting threat is the main thing that holds Eason back as a player, as well as the Rockets’ depth at forward. It especially holds Eason back from being considered a viable small forward.
Eason and the Rockets’ Next Steps
As a mostly non-shooting power forward, Eason isn’t particularly remarkable. Still, with his size and defensive instincts, he could be a starter-level player in that role. P.J. Washington just made the finals in that role with the Mavericks.
However, providing just enough shooting threat to slide in at small forward would make Eason a truly premium role player. That same Mavericks team managed to get by with the shooting of Derrick Jones Jr. at that position, with just 34.3%. That was alongside Washington too, who shot 31.4% in Dallas.
The Rockets’ Jabari Smith Jr. might not be the shooting threat he was advertised as coming into the draft, but, at 36.3% last year, he has to be guarded out there. Even the recently extended starting center, Alperen Sengun, is shooting well on limited attempts thus far this season.
Dillon Brooks will hold down the starting small forward spot for the Rockets this season, but if Eason is going to have a long-term future with the team, that’s the spot he’ll have to earn. The front office will be keeping a close eye on Eason’s three-point shooting this season for signs he might be able to do it.
The Last Word
For now though, Eason’s contributions will be felt with the Rockets’ second unit. Whitmore and Sheppard will presumably get more time to shine. Don’t expect it to come from Eason’s slice of the pie though. Don’t expect Rockets fans to complain about that either. If there’s one thing fans and Udoka agree on, it’s being glad to have Eason back, with no easing-in required.
