John Lucas on Rockets rookie Tari Eason: ‘Better Dennis Rodman’

HOUSTON — It’s hard to describe how this has happened with just two exhibition games played. Still, Rockets rookie forward Tari Eason is making media members, as well as his fellow players and coaches, run out of salutations for how he has played, and Houston still has two more preseason and 82 regular-season games left.

Eason, 21, led all scorers with 24 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 25 minutes of work in the Rockets’ 116-100 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at Toyota Center. His performance was dually noted by Houston assistant coach John Lucas II, who has taken over the head coaching duties as Stephen Silas is still in the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

“Second night, not one play, not many plays (called for Eason), another 24 and nine,” Lucas said. “He missed the 3 and got the ball right back and laid it back up. Big momentum for us. I was on him early because he looks like he gets in a daze, but he’s really focused.”

The praisesfor the former 2021 Southeastern Conference Sixth Man of the Year did not stop there. In the same week he compared rookie Jabari Smith Jr. to San Antonio legend David Robinson, Lucas tossed out another one-time Spurs comparison for Eason.

“He is a prime example of a better Dennis Rodman,” said Lucas, whose first NBA head coaching job was with the Spurs in the early 1990s. “That is a good fit for him. I have been trying to see who he plays like. You don’t have to run plays for him, but you can pencil in 16 to 18 points for him, and he is getting better. He is crashing the offensive glass. He is running the floor and getting steals.”

For those who have had the opportunity to be around Eason, you can tell that he is a basketball savant who studies the league, both past and present. So, it was no surprise that he knew everything Rodman brought to the court every night during his 15 years in the NBA.

“I think that’s a super, super big honor to be compared to a legend, a Hall of Famer, someone like Dennis Rodman,” said Eason, who is now averaging 22.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game in the preseason. “Obviously, we both have a knack for finding the ball, playing defense, and bringing high energy. Any time you’re in talks with someone like that, it’s super, super special.”

One player who clearly recognizes that energy while feeding off it on the court is Eason’s teammate and 2021-22 NBA All-Rookie First Team selection, Jalen Green.

“We were just talking about that on the bench,” Green said in referencing a conversation (about Eason) with backcourt mate Kevin Porter Jr. “He’s a dog. He is giving us multiple efforts offensively and defensively. He just brings energy. That’s going to be super big for our team going into the season.”

Houston (2-0) is holding an open practice with fans on Saturday at Toyota Center before heading to Miami to play the Heat (2-1) in Monday’s third preseason game. Tipoff is at 6:30 p.m. Central.