Houston Rockets rookie forward Tari Eason was named by the NBA on Monday to the 2022 All-Summer League First Team. In five games in Las Vegas, Eason averaged 17.2 points (44.7% FG, 33.3% on 3-pointers), 10.2 rebounds, and 1.8 steals in 27.5 minutes per game.
Eason is joined on that team by Quentin Grimes of the New York Knicks, Sandro Mamukelashvili of the Milwaukee Bucks, Keegan Murray of the Sacramento Kings, and Cam Thomas of the Brooklyn Nets.
Of those five first-team members, the only 2022 rookies were Eason and Murray, who were drafted at No. 17 and No. 4 in the first-round order, respectively. Each played multiple seasons of college basketball in a major conference, which likely contributed to their readiness.
Eason, a 6-foot-8 forward who recently turned 21 years old, registered a double-double in points and rebounds in four of his five summer games. In particular, Eason was a dynamic and versatile force on defense, and he could factor into the regular-season NBA rotation for Stephen Silas with the Rockets as soon as the upcoming 2022-23 season.
[lawrence-related id=103256,102820]
Tari Eason and Keegan Murray were the only 2 "rookies" on the Summer League 1st team. The other 3 were second year guys. #Rockets https://t.co/GZtnoCUBVQ
— Chris A. White 🐻 (@fyrebear) July 18, 2022
[listicle id=103612]