Tag: Tari Eason

Jabari Smith Jr. motivates himself with All-Rookie second team selection

“I underachieved, by my standards, this year,” Jabari Smith Jr. says of his rookie season. “I know that we have to be better next year, and I have to be better.” #Rockets

HOUSTON — Most individuals involved in Rockets’ company-wide day of service knew who was arriving when the black sprinter van pulled up in front of the Fourth Ward’s historic Saulnier House.

The property is in the middle of Freedmen’s Town. It was established in 1865 by formerly enslaved Black people who purchased land and used it to create a community.

Newly hired head coach Ime Udoka was the first one out of the van, followed by general manager Rafael Stone, point guard Kevin Porter Jr. and forward Jabari Smith Jr. It was the first public appearance for Smith since he and fellow rookie teammate Tari Eason were named to the 2023 NBA’s All-Rookie second team.

“It is a good accomplishment, but I know more is ahead,” Smith told the media. “It’s a big deal, but how I am, I will use it for motivation. I underachieved by my standards this year. I know that we have to be better next year, and I have to be better next year.”

Smith was selected by the Rockets with the No. 3 pick in the 2022 NBA draft. He finished the season averaging 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds in the 79 games he started.

“It is hard to make any achievement in this league,” Porter said of his teammates’ accomplishments. “There is so much talent, and just to be rewarded as top rookies is a great way to start your career, and they are going to strive more and more.”

Friday was also a chance for Smith to meet and talk with Udoka, who started his new job in late April. Although it was a short ride from Toyota Center to the Fourth Ward, Smith was impressed by Udoka and can’t wait to see him bring the same philosophy and intensity he had when he led Boston to the 2022 NBA Finals.

“I don’t know him yet,” Smith joked with reporters about Udoka. “He is real cool. We had a conversation in the car on the way over here. He is a good guy, and can’t wait to get to know him better. It is a long season, getting to know somebody you are going to be with every day when the season starts. I am learning different things about him, and he is getting to know me.”

Smith has kept himself busy in the 2023 offseason by working out with his dad, former NBA player Jabari Smith Sr., and by taking yoga classes. He has even gotten into boxing, which he says is helping him with his footwork and coordination.

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Bill Simmons becomes only NBA awards voter with Jabari Smith Jr. on All-Rookie first team

Bill Simmons was Jabari Smith Jr.’s lone vote for the All-Rookie First Team, while ESPN’s Kevin Pelton and The Salt Lake Tribune’s Andy Larsen backed Tari Eason. #Rockets

In 2022, The Ringer’s Bill Simmons — a longtime NBA media personality — created negative headlines in Houston for his loud campaign against Jalen Green making the 2021-22 All-Rookie first team.

It was a minority opinion; Green received the honor.

A year later, though, Simmons is on the opposite extreme. Of the 100 media voters for the 2022-23 awards, he was the only one who placed Rockets rookie Jabari Smith Jr. on the 2022-23 All-Rookie first team. Smith ended up earning All-Rookie second-team honors along with fellow Rockets rookie Tari Eason.

In all, Smith had 70 second-team votes and one first-team vote. Eason had 43 second-team votes and two first-team votes. Eason’s two first-team votes were from ESPN’s Kevin Pelton and The Salt Lake Tribune’s Andy Larsen. Both are known for their heavy use of advanced analytics in making award decisions.

The All-Rookie voting ballots are available here.

Smith played in 79 of Houston’s 82 games and started all of those. He averaged 12.8 points (40.8% FG, 30.7% on 3-pointers), 7.2 rebounds and 31 minutes.

Eason was one of only two players on the Rockets (joining KJ Martin) to play in all 82 games, having averaged 9.3 points (44.8% FG, 34.3% on 3-pointers), 6.0 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 21.5 minutes. He made five starts.

Smith was drafted at No. 3 out of Auburn, while Eason was picked at No. 17 after playing at LSU. As prospects, both forwards were well-regarded for their defensive intensity and versatility, a big part of their future value as they supplement a young Houston core that already has strong scoring and playmaking from Green, Kevin Porter Jr. and Alperen Sengun.

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2023 NBA All-Rookie: Paolo Banchero unanimously selected to first team

Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero was the only unanimous first-team selection this year.

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams and Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler headlined the NBA All-Rookie first team announced on Monday.

Banchero, who was named Rookie of the Year, was the only unanimous first-team selection, appearing on all 100 ballots from a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Williams earned 99 first-team votes and Kessler garnered 95 votes.

Joining the trio of players on the first team are Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray and Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin. Murray was on 88 first-team ballots while Mathurin was on 71 in the final tally released with the announcement.

2022-23 NBA All-Rookie First Team

Player First Team Votes Second Team Votes Total Points
Paolo Banchero 100 0 200
Jalen Williams 99 1 199
Walker Kessler 95 5 195
Keegan Murray 88 9 195
Bennedict Mathurin 71 28 170

Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons), Tari Eason (Houston Rockets), Jaden Ivey (Detroit Pistons), Jabari Smith Jr. (Houston Rockets) and Jeremy Sochan (San Antonio Spurs) were named to the All-Rookie second team.

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Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason reflect on NBA All-Rookie seasons in Houston

“Just looking back at the ups and downs and where I am now, I feel like I am a totally different player than I was back in October,” Jabari Smith Jr. says of his rookie season. #Rockets

When the visiting locker room opened at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., the mood inside was somber.

The dark cloud figuratively hovering involved unconfirmed reports head coach Stephen Silas would not return to the Rockets because the organization had decided not to extend his contract.

Silas addressed the players after that game, which was Houston’s finale of the 2022-23 season, to discuss his future.

Even though the group of young men had emotions all over the place, they took solace in knowing they had played very well down the stretch for Silas. Houston won three straight games and four of its last five, including a win over the Wizards in that April 9 game.

Two key leaders for the Rockets in that victory were a pair of rookies who had listened intently to Silas’ guidance throughout the season. Rookie forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason played with tremendous intent every time they stepped onto the hardwood. On Monday, they were rewarded for their hard work and dedication. Both were named to the NBA’s All-Rookie second team.

Smith and Eason joined teammates Jalen Green (2021-22 first team) and Jae’Sean Tate (2020-21 first team) in being named to All-Rookie teams over the last three seasons. Smith and Eason are both prospects primarily known for their defense.

After spending one season in college at Auburn, Smith came into his rookie season with high expectations as the No. 3 pick in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft. He started 79 out of 82 games this season, averaging 12.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists.

“Just looking back at the ups and downs and looking at where I am now, I just feel like I am a totally different player than I was back in October playing in Atlanta for the first game,” Smith said after a home win over Denver on April 4. “The game is so much slower for me, and I feel like the improvement has been noticeable.”

Smith took his game to another level over the final 18 games, averaging 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds. During that span, he recorded eight of his season-high 16 double-doubles. In doing so, he joined Mavericks superstar Luka Dončić as the only rookies to ever record at least 550 rebounds and 100 made 3-pointers in a season.

As for Eason, he knew entering the NBA that he was embarking upon on a familiar path of proving himself. It’s what he did going from high school in Seattle, Washington, to the University of Cincinnati for one season, and then to LSU, his final college destination.

Eason was selected by the Rockets with the No. 17 pick in the 2022 draft. With no defined role, Eason used his ability to make the right plays at the right time to gain more playing time throughout the season. He appeared in all 82 games, averaging 9.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.17 steals in 21.5 minutes.

The former All-SEC first-team member and Sixth Man of the Year became the fifth NBA rookie to record at least 450 rebounds, 90 steals, 40 blocks, and 50 3-pointers, joining Carmelo Anthony, Larry Bird, Lamar Odom and Antoine Walker. Eason was the third player in league history with at least 190 offensive rebounds and 90 steals while playing fewer than 1,800 minutes.

“I learned a lot,” Eason said after the victory over Denver in Houston’s home finale. “It is hard to say everything because I learned so much on a day-to-day basis. I learned how to control my mentality. Knowing when to go and pick my spots. This is my first season in the NBA, and I learned the precedent of what was to come and what I should expect and the standards that should be met.”

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Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason named to NBA’s All-Rookie second team

#Rockets forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason were each named Monday to the NBA’s All-Rookie Second Team, one year after teammate Jalen Green made the All-Rookie First Team.

One year after the Rockets had 2021 first-round pick Jalen Green receive All-Rookie first-team honors, Houston can enjoy a further endorsement of its young talent. Two of its 2022 first-round selections were named to the 2022-23 All-Rookie second team.

In Monday’s announcement from the NBA, rookie forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason were voted to the second team along with Detroit’s Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren and San Antonio’s Jeremy Sochan. The first team consisted of Orlando’s Paolo Banchero, Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams, Utah’s Walker Kessler, Sacramento’s Keegan Murray and Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin.

Of the 100-person media voting panel, 70 voted Smith to the second team, and one voter had him on the first team. That gave him 72 total points (a first-team vote counts for two points), which was easily enough for Smith to make the 2022-23 second team.

Eason, on the other hand, held off Indiana’s Andrew Nembhard for the final spot on the second team by the slimmest of margins, 47 points to 46. Eason finished with 43 second-team votes and two first-team votes, while Nembhard had 45 second-team votes but no first-team votes. That first-team discrepancy was the difference.

Smith played in 79 of Houston’s 82 games and started all of those, averaging 12.8 points (40.8% FG, 30.7% on 3-pointers) and 7.2 rebounds in 31 minutes. Meanwhile, Eason was one of only two players on the Rockets (joining KJ Martin) to play in all 82 games, having averaged 9.3 points (44.8% FG, 34.3% on 3-pointers), 6.0 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 21.5 minutes. He made five starts.

Smith was drafted at No. 3 overall out of Auburn, while Eason was picked at No. 17 after playing at LSU. As prospects, both forwards were well-regarded for their defensive intensity and versatility, and that’s a big part of their future value proposition as they supplement a young Houston core that already has strong scoring and playmaking from Green, Kevin Porter Jr. and Alperen Sengun.

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TNT’s Ernie Johnson sees Rockets rookie Tari Eason as underrated

TNT’s Ernie Johnson on Tari Eason and the NBA’s rookie awards: “It’s easy to overlook teams that have had bad years. But he had nearly as good of a year as any rookie.” #Rockets

The Houston Rockets finished the 2022-23 season with the NBA’s second-worst record (22-60), but they certainly weren’t devoid of bright spots. One of those was Tari Eason, an energetic rookie forward from LSU drafted at No. 17 overall in the 2022 first round.

The athletic 6-foot-8 forward averaged 9.3 points (44.8% FG, 34.3% on 3-pointers) and 6.0 rebounds in 21.5 minutes, and he brings enough versatility to provide loads of defensive value, as well.

On a national level, the Rockets didn’t much coverage this season, but one person who noticed Eason’s contributions was Ernie Johnson, the longtime host of TNT’s Inside the NBA.

As part of an extended question-and-answer session with Bryan Kalbrosky of USA TODAY’s For The Win, Johnson said:

Kalbrosky: Who are some underrated players in the league who aren’t getting enough shine?

Johnson: When I was voting for NBA All-Rookie, Houston’s Tari Eason caught my eye. It’s easy to overlook teams that have had bad years. But he had nearly as good of a year as any rookie. Jabari Smith came in with all the hype, but Tari Eason was right there with him in terms of just getting a spot for NBA All-Rookie.

The complete Q&A with Johnson can be viewed here. As for the NBA’s All-Rookie first team and second team and whether Eason and Smith fit in, those should be released in the coming days.

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New Rockets coach Ime Udoka on Alperen Sengun: ‘Like a mini-Jokic’

In a chat with @SportsVanessa, new #Rockets coach Ime Udoka was complimentary of several of his newly inherited players, and none more so than Alperen Sengun.

In a soon-to-be-released interview with courtside reporter Vanessa Richardson of AT&T SportsNet Southwest, Ime Udoka was complimentary of several newly inherited players in his new position as head coach of the young and rebuilding Houston Rockets.

“I knew Kevin (Porter Jr.) and Jalen (Green) from scouting and playing against them two times, but those guys have grown in their own aspects,” Udoka said. “Then, looking down the roster, I didn’t understand as much about Tari (Eason), Jabari (Smith Jr.), Jae’Sean (Tate] and KJ (Martin). There’s a ton of talent.”

But after his initial film review of the Rockets, Udoka saved his best endorsement for young center Alperen Sengun. Statistically, the 20-year-old had a breakout year in his second NBA season:

Alperen Sengun is like a mini-Jokic (Denver’s Nikola Jokic) out there. There’s things I didn’t understand about these guys.

In his introductory press conference, Udoka mentioned wanting to add “different types of bigs” to the roster. However, the 45-year-old coach said that in the context of playing alongside Sengun or perhaps in tandem with him in the rotation, as opposed to being a replacement. For example, a big man with more athleticism and shot blocking might help offset some of Sengun’s defensive limitations.

It’s worth noting that when Udoka coached the Celtics in the 2021 offseason, Boston reportedly had eyes on Sengun as a potential draft pick. Several in NBA circles have since compared the Turkish prospect to Jokic, a two-time league MVP who also hails from Europe.

Fortunately, the Rockets were able to trade for the No. 16 overall pick in the 2021 first round to draft the 6-foot-11 big man, and the rest is history. Sengun averaged a career-high 14.8 points (55.3% FG), 9.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in 28.9 minutes per game this season.

Udoka’s full one-on-one interview with Richardson can be viewed on AT&T SportsNet Southwest at 7 p.m. Central on Sunday.

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Rockets finish 2022-23 season on winning streak behind rookies Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason

#Rockets rookies Jabari Smith and Tari Eason flourished Sunday in Washington as Houston (22-60) finished its 2022-23 season with three straight wins and four of five, overall.

In the final game of the NBA’s 2022-23 season for both teams, the Rockets rallied to defeat the Wizards on Sunday, 114-109 (box score). Both teams were short-handed, as expected, in a regular-season finale with no playoff implications, with Houston (22-60) resting Kevin Porter Jr. and Washington (35-47) holding out big names such as Bradley Beal, Kyle Kuzma, and Kristaps Porzingis.

With the road victory, the rebuilding Rockets finished the season with three straight wins and four of their last five, overall. However, that wasn’t enough to save the job of head coach Stephen Silas, whose team finished with one of the NBA’s three worst records (and maximum draft-lottery odds) in each of his three years in Houston.

Besides sitting Porter, the Rockets gave only limited minutes to starting center Alperen Sengun (12 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists) and guard Jalen Green (14 points, 4 assists, 50% FG), who sat out late. Houston did, however, let its 2022-23 rookies play usual minutes.

Jabari Smith Jr. led the way for the Rockets with 20 points and 5 rebounds on 6-of-11 shooting (54.5%), including 7-of-8 on free-throws (87.5%), while Tari Eason had 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists on a matching 6-of-11 line. Second-year guard Josh Christopher started in place of Porter and had 13 points and 4 assists on 6-of-10 shooting (60.0%), while veteran big man Boban Marjanovic added 10 points (71.4% FG) and 6 rebounds in only 13 minutes.

Jordan Goodwin led the Wizards with 22 points and 5 assists on 8-of-14 shooting (57.1%) and 3-of-8 from 3-point range (37.5%).

Scroll on for highlights, postgame interviews, and reaction from Houston fans and media members. With their season complete, next up for the Rockets are exit interviews to recap the year and preview the offseason. A schedule for those has yet to be released.

Immanuel Quickley outduels Kevin Porter Jr. as Knicks blast weary Rockets

Kevin Porter Jr. bounced back from an off night with 26 points on strong efficiency, but it wasn’t nearly enough on a career game by New York’s Immanuel Quickley. #Rockets

On the second night of a road back-to-back, the weary Rockets were no match for the rested Knicks in Monday’s 137-115 loss (box score) at Madison Square Garden. New York (43-33), which hadn’t played in four days, remains on course for a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs, while Houston (18-58) is still last place in the West.

With the loss, Houston clinched one of the NBA’s three worst records of the 2022-23 season, which guarantees maximum odds of securing one of the top-four draft picks determined by the 2023 lottery.

Third-year guard Immanuel Quickley set a career-high with 40 points on elite efficiency, making 14-of-17 shots (82.4%) and 5-of-7 on 3-pointers (71.4%). Quickley also dished a team-high 9 assists for the Knicks. Veteran forward Julius Randle added 26 points on 10-of-19 shooting (52.6%), including 3-of-8 on 3-pointers (37.5%).

Kevin Porter Jr. bounced back from an off night Sunday with a team-high 26 points on 8-of-14 shooting (57.1%) and 3-of-6 from 3-point range (50%), but Porter and the rest of Houston’s backcourt struggled defensively to contain Quickley. Other double-figure scorers were:

  • Jalen Green: 19 points, 4 assists; 4-of-11 shooting (36.4%), 1-of-5 on 3-pointers (20.0%), 10-of-12 on free throws (83.3%)
  • KJ Martin: 18 points, 6 rebounds; 7-of-11 shooting (63.6%), 1-of-3 on 3-pointers (33.3%)
  • Jabari Smith Jr.: 14 points, 11 rebounds, career-high 6 assists; 6-of-13 shooting (46.2%)
  • Alperen Sengun: 11 points, 5 rebounds, 5 turnovers; 5-of-9 shooting (55.6%), 1-of-1 on 3-pointers
  • Tari Eason: 13 points, 8 rebounds; 5-of-11 shooting (45.5%)
  • Josh Christopher: 12 points, 6-of-10 shooting (60.0%)

The Rockets were competitive until late in the third quarter, but the game spiraled quickly once the second unit came in. Tired legs may have also been a factor.

Scroll on for highlights, postgame interviews and reaction by Houston fans and media members. The Rockets will conclude their five-game road trip with Wednesday night’s visit to Brooklyn. The tip is again scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Central.

In Memphis blowout, Stephen Silas frustrated by Rockets’ lack of physicality

“We knew the physicality was going to be the number one thing,” #Rockets coach Stephen Silas says of the loss at Memphis. “We were just letting them run around wherever they wanted.”

On Friday, the Grizzlies did something they hadn’t done in a long time. They played a game that solely involved basketball.

There was no celebration of an All-Star returning from a suspension after several adolescent actions, including a verbal altercation with a 17-year-old that allegedly led to a brandished firearm. Nor was there the usual chatter and antics of guard Dillon Brooks, who was suspended for exceeding the NBA’s limit for technical fouls.

Led by Brooks and Ja Morant, the Grizzlies (46-27) played good, old-fashioned basketball. Unfortunately, the young and rebuilding Houston Rockets (18-56) were the recipients of a 151-114 annihilation from the No. 2 team in the Western Conference.

“We weren’t physical with them; they were physical with us,” said Rockets head coach Stephen Silas. “We knew the physicality was going to be the number one thing when it came to this game, and we were just letting them run around wherever they wanted.”

Houston did not look like the same team from that barely lost to Memphis, 130-125, two days earlier. They allowed the Grizzlies to do anything they wanted on the offensive end of the court, including hitting a franchise-record 25 3-pointers. Starter Desmond Bane and reserve Luke Kennard combined to make 15 attempts.

Kennard set a franchise record with 10 made 3-pointers, and he matched his career high with 30 points.

“They have two guys known for shooting in Bane and Kennard,” said Silas. “We knew that coming in. That was really the 3-point shooting.”

When the Grizzlies were not shooting lights out on Friday, they used their physicality to their advantage against a young Rockets team that seemed disorganized from the start of the game. They allowed 83 points by halftime and were trailing Memphis by 31 points.

“They came out and kind of punched us in the mouth, and we didn’t necessarily have an answer for it,” said rookie forward Tari Eason, who tied his career high with 21 points.

“That being said, they are one of the top teams in the West,” Eason added. “They’re in a place we want to get to in the coming years. We just got to learn from this. It’s unfortunate to see us lose this way, this badly. But through all these losses are lessons.”

One lesson that the Rockets need to learn from this season is how not to get so easily distracted by the game officials. On Friday, they looked to be taken out of the game mentally and physically as they complained to the referees about the lack of non-calls.

“Every time we go to the paint, it was ‘Oh, I can’t believe I didn’t get a foul call,’” Silas said postgame. “The more you do that, the more the referees aren’t going to give you any calls.”

“You got to play through that physicality and play through those things, so then they will give you the benefit of the doubt,” Silas said. “But if you continue to show up referees or raise your hands or complain, or whatever. What referee is going to give you a call? It’s not going to happen. We got to be focused on what is important, and that’s playing well, not the referees, not everything else.”

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