Inside The Rockets

Rockets' Tari Eason Reveals Mindset

Tari Eason has been part of the winning formula for the Houston Rockets.

Jeremy Brener

Nov 10, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason (17) loses control of the ball while driving to the basket against the Detroit Pistons in the first quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Nov 10, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason (17) loses control of the ball while driving to the basket against the Detroit Pistons in the first quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images / Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
In this story:

Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason is a big reason why the team is off to an 8-4 start.

After only playing in 22 games during his second year in the league, the Rockets missed Eason's impact on both ends of the floor. Now, he's healthy and the Rockets have played him in all 12 games to start the season.

Eason recently spoke with The Athletic insider Kelly Iko about how he is approaching his game this season.

“I just play to win,” Eason said via Iko. “There’s not that much to it. I’ve always played the same way, trying to do whatever I can to help the team win. Since I was young, that’s how I played — that was the standard in my household. Play hard, and play to win.”

So far this season, Eason is averaging a career-best 12.2 points per game, and the Rockets' best lineups often feature him in some capacity.

Eason has often been referred as the team's X-Factor for the season, and his presence could be a big reason why the Rockets take an extra leap in the standings this year.

Eason and the Rockets look to begin their NBA Cup journey tomorrow night as they take on James Harden and the Los Angeles Clippers in a rematch. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT.

Want to join the discussion? Like Rockets on SI Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Rockets news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.

Published
Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

Home/News