Without designed plays, Rockets rookie Tari Eason making a big impact

HOUSTON — Rockets rookie Tari Eason had a very intriguing NBA preseason debut in Sunday’s 134-96 win over San Antonio, finishing with 21 points and 10 rebounds. The 6-foot-8 forward connected on 9-of-13 shots (69.2%) in only 21 minutes played.

Going back to his college, ending the game with a double-double is a usual stat line for last season’s Southeastern Conference Sixth Man of the Year at LSU. But in this case, it was fascinating that he did it all without one offensive play designed to get him the ball.

“We did not run one play for Tari tonight,” said Rockets head coach Stephen Silas during his postgame press conference. “But his crashing and his knack for getting to the rim is good.”

Silas knew precisely what the No. 17 overall selection in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft brought to his team when he sat courtside in Las Vegas and watched Eason earn All-NBA Summer League First Team, averaging 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.

@TAR13ASON got huge praises from Rockets HC Stephen Silas after the first preseason game. #LightTheFuse #Sarge @TheRocketsWire pic.twitter.com/0fIjIpM3vi

— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) October 4, 2022

“I am always working on my game,” Eason said over the summer. “I love to hoop, so anywhere a hoop is, I love to go play.”

Eason, 21, admitted that it is common for an offensive set not to have any designed plays with him involved, and he is okay with that.

“Plays aren’t really run for me, anyway, so I am just used to finding open spaces and getting it on my own,” Eason said after Houston’s 38-point victory over the Spurs. “Whether that is getting it off the glass or a steal. Anything I can do to try and get myself going.”

“Plays aren’t really run for me anyway, so I am just used to finding open spaces and getting it on my own,” said Rockets rookie Tari Eason when responding to Rockets HC Stephen Silas’s praise about his play despite not having offensive sets called for him. #Sarge pic.twitter.com/PwmL2wOeKa

— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) October 4, 2022

That mentality takes many Rockets fans back to 30 years ago when Houston selected another All-SEC small forward in the first round of the 1992 NBA draft in Robert Horry. Like Eason, Horry had to find his way in a system focused on more offensive-minded players such as Hakeem Olajuwon and Vernon Maxwell.

The majority of his four years with the Rockets consisted of him being in the right place at the right time and doing all the dirty work.

When he was called to produce offensively, he had a knack for finding ways to create points, especially in the clutch, which was needed during the Rockets’ back-to-back NBA championships.

“Big Shot Bob” then went on to win five more NBA titles during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs.

Early indications are that Eason has similar levels of determination and grit, which the team hopes will lead him down a familiar path.