The 2022-23 season is now in its second half, and the Houston Rockets are building their roster with eyes on the future. The development of young talent has been a clear rebuilding focal point, with an emphasis on well-rounded players, not necessarily stars.
When the Rockets took Tari Eason at No. 17 overall in the 2022 NBA draft, they knew they were getting a versatile forward. He’s shown flashes of what made him valuable out of LSU with scoring and rebounding, creating needed flexibility. Rockets head coach Stephen Silas addressed the media after Thursday’s 113-95 home loss to Cleveland and mentioned Eason’s potential as a consistent role player.
“He plays hard,” Silas said of Eason. “He gives us the same thing. Every game with offensive rebounding. It’s getting out in transition. It’s making a three here and there but second-chance opportunities at the rim. Layups, Euro steps, that kind of thing, and then defensively, he’s very versatile. His game at LSU is very similar to how he can play here, as far as being a role player, and that’s important.”
Eason finished Thursday’s game with 18 points and 11 rebounds in 25 minutes. The 21-year-old’s ability to crash the boards, defend, and shoot from the outside is a very useful combination of skills that will keep Eason in the rotation for the foreseeable future.
