Austin Rivers Isn't a Fan of a Young, Promising Rockets Player

Free agent point guard Austin Rivers isn't a fan of a particular Houston Rockets player.

Jan 3, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason (17) leave the court following the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports / Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

When players transition out of the league and into the media industry, they tend to become rather opinionated. It's the nature of the beast. 

It drives ratings and adds popularity to their platform. And it gives fans something to talk about when unpopular takes go viral on social media. 

Former Houston Rockets guard Austin Rivers has mastered the art of giving trandpartent and authentic takes, even if the masses disagree. Rivers had the sports world in a frenzy just a few weeks ago when he suggested that NBA players can play in the NFL but NFL players couldn't cross over into the NBA.

Rivers' most recent comments drew the ire of many Rockets fans, as he stated that Rockets forward Tari Eason isn't on the same tier as several of the Rockets' other recent first-round picks.

Rivers was on his signature Off Guard podcast and began discussing the landscape of the Western Conference, prompting him to speak about his former Rockets. 

"Houston was a team that didn't make the playoffs this year but people didn't see the second half of the regular season... Houston made a huge run to make it interesting.

And Jalen Green has blossomed into a player that we all thought he could be. So now you get him and [Alperen] Sengun back healthy.

Their young nucleus is there. Cam Whitmore, the Thompson twin, you've got Green, you've got Sengun. They're good."

Rivers' co-host, Pausha Haghighi, mentioned Tari Eason as another one of the Rockets' young talents and....well, let's just say that Rivers didn't agree.

"Eh...I don't know about him. He's not....nah, I'm not putting him in that group."

Rivers also didn't mention Jabari Smith Jr., although he didn't specifically state that he shouldn't be "in that group" like he did with Eason.

Eason's mom took to social media to defend her son, as the outspoken Teroya Eason has been known to do time and time again.

It’s a tad Monday for a stray to hit my son, but I’m in paradise LFG! Hoop is SO fun to watch; so It’s easy to call out who don’t👀 Purple shirt cooked with “Bari Eason” but that’s two diff mfs😂 The other guy was good in high school. His Dad is the star of that family.
☘️💅🏾 https://t.co/QBYOecW7HK

— MOMSTER “🫖” (@teroyaeason) June 3, 2024

Mama Eason didn't stop there.

Austin Reaves SHOE comes up before Rivers on Google. There is only ONE Tari Eason. Let me get back to the sea. Keep tagging me on the fun stuff! I adore Rockets culture! Shit talking is a lifestyle. 😏Goodnight twitter!💙

— MOMSTER “🫖” (@teroyaeason) June 3, 2024

Although Rivers is known to clap back, he wisely decided against responding in this case. As for Eason, the only way to silence Rivers (and the other naysayers) is to dominate when the Rockets take the court again.

Which won't be any time soon.

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