Jalen Green’s groin strain helped open an opportunity for another Houston Rockets prospect. Rookie Tari Eason is joining Friday’s NBA Rising Stars tournament at All-Star weekend.
The Rising Stars event takes place Friday night, less than 48 hours after Green suffered the injury in Oklahoma City. While the Rockets have yet to issue a projected timetable for Green, who is undergoing an MRI on Thursday, returning from a soft tissue injury within two days to participate in an exhibition was never realistic.
That created an opportunity for Eason, a 21-year-old from LSU who was drafted by Houston at No. 17 overall in the 2022 first round. The 6-foot-8 forward is averaging 8.7 points (44.4% FG, 34.5% on 3-pointers) and 5.5 rebounds in 19.4 minutes per game, and he’s also one of Houston’s best and most versatile defensive players.
Eason joins two other Rockets in the tournament: fellow rookie Jabari Smith Jr. and second-year center Alperen Sengun. The four-team contest, which starts at 8 p.m. Central on Friday night, will be played at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City and televised nationally on TNT.
Rockets guard Jalen Green will miss the Rising Stars competition with a groin strain. Replaced by Chicago's Ayo Dosunmu. Rockets rookie Tari Eason will replace Detroit's Jalen Duren.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) February 16, 2023
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