“We are only as good as our defense in one-on-one situations”asserts Ime Udoka. And thanks to Tari Eason (2m03, 98kg) and his 2m10 wingspan, the one the coach simply considers to be “the first blade of our defense in transition”the one who discourages opposing counterattacks with his constant aggressiveness, particularly on offensive rebounds, the Rockets can move forward calmly this season.
As proof, their surprising 4th place in the West with a convincing record of 15 victories for 8 defeats. But also a second place in the ranking of the best defenses of the season, with 105.1 in the “Defensive Rating”, behind the Thunder (103.3). And third in points conceded (106.6) behind Oklahoma City (103.8) and Orlando (103).
A tip from Dennis Rodman
Fourth best interceptor in the League, Tari Eason begins to form an increasingly frightening duo in defense with his bench sidekick, Amen Thompson. So much so that they inherited a new nickname, the “Terror Twins”. And that the two players seem “untouchable” in discussions with other franchises, if we are to believe Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
“I know that we are better than a lot of these guys that we call, in quotes, the best defenders in the NBA” totally sent Tari Eason while his coach had sent him stats on the best defenders in the league during the summer.
The boy does not lack confidence and it must be recognized that with 11.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.1 interceptions, 1.0 blocks in 23 minutes, Tari Eason has taken a step forward in his efficiency on both sides of the field, inviting himself directly into the race for the title of best sixth man. And why not in a defensive five at the end of the season?
“He’s a guy who can be an improved Dennis Rodman.”bluntly affirmed John Lucas, former assistant with the Rockets. “It’s a good comparison for him. Because we don't need to put systems in place for him, but you can count on him to score 16 or 18 points. And he continues to progress. He is present on the offensive rebound and he runs in all directions to grab interceptions. »
This season in this case, to give a concrete idea: on the possessions that he defends directly in one-on-one, Tari Eason ends up with a 4.3% chance of intercepting the ball (1st) and/or 4.4% chance of covering your opponent on a 2-point shot (14th). And when the Eason/Thompson duo is on the court, opponents only shoot at 41.7% overall, including 32.2% behind the 3-point line…
Kawhi Leonard tunes (and hands)
Ime Udoka thus compares the former LSU to his foal from the Spurs days, a certain Kawhi Leonard. Which he trained when he started in San Antonio, before he became defender of the year two years in a row in 2015 and 2016. Like Kawhi Leonard, Tari Eason has the good instincts and the “big hands” that he necessary to extinguish the opposing scorers!
“I knew young Kawhi Leonard and Eason is the closest thing to what Kawhi was doing at the time. »
The two players trained together in the summer of 2022. But we have to believe that the placid and clinical Kawhi has not yet completely rubbed off on his younger brother. The latter is still capable of little acts of madness, “Rodman-style”, like trying to go see a fan in the stands very recently in Sacramento!
Coming from a family of four boys, united around his mother, former star of his high school basketball team in Los Angeles, big fan of Kevin Garnett whose intensity she transmitted to her offspring, young Tari retained the lesson.
“If you want to be great, you have to be the one doing the aggression.” Luck always favors the one who attacks”he explains in The Athletic. “This mental toughness is really what can serve you in adversity. When you're struggling and you have to fight, it's those moments that make you who you are. »
Disciple of Brandon Roy in Seattle
And Tari Eason knew the problem well when she arrived in Seattle at age 15, from the Los Angeles valley. At Garfield High School where a certain Brandon Roy was the coach, he saw very little of the field his first year. And not much more for the second…
So he left during the third year, to play with Jaden McDaniels at the rival high school in Federal Way. Tari Eason finally returned to Garfield for his “senior” season, under the orders of Brandon Roy back in business, to win the title, while collecting the MVP trophy of the local tournament, defeating Paolo Banchero in the final, and the title of best player of the year in the process!
Little recruited by the big universities, Tari Eason will first find refuge in Cincinnati, where he will come off the bench for an average of 7 points and 6 rebounds in 20 minutes. Then, he will restart in Louisiana, at LSU, but still coming off the bench, with an average of 17 points and 7 rebounds and the title of best Sixth Man in his SEC conference, plus a place in the best five of the conference.
“I bring a lot of energy. And I think my energy is contagious to the rest of the team. I just want us to defend strong collectively. I talk, I scream, I have this competitive nature in me”he confirms. “I just have to concentrate fully. When I'm focused, nothing can happen to me. »
Joakim Noah apologizes to him
Underrated for a long time, Tari Eason is nevertheless starting to make a name for himself, within this young Rockets team which has returned to the heights of the West, for the first time since the James Harden years.
With his teammates Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr, he even represents the future of a franchise which can finally look upwards again, after years of sleep…
Yet when he was invited to the 2023 All Star Weekend Rising Star Challenge in Salt Lake with his two comrades, Tari Eason was unfortunately dragged back, reliving the bitter experience of being left out. Forgotten at the end of the bench… By Joakim Noah, coach apparently a little distracted on his rotations.
“I was the coach and I made a big mistake: I forgot to play him in the second half! And we lost against Pau Gasol's team in the final, I was disgusted. After the game, Tari's grandmother came up to me and said, 'I came from Seattle and you didn't play my grandson in the second half.' »
Very unhappy with this rookie mistake, to the point of having nightmares the following night, “Jooks” has since made amends, in the podcast The Old Man & The Three :
“Now when I see it, with the nickname they earned from 'Terror Twins' [avec Amen Thompson]with a lot of energy coming off the bench, 3-point shooting and cuts in all directions, it's incredible. I wish him nothing but the best, and I hope he sees this and accepts my apology. »
| Tari Eason | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2022-23 | HOU | 82 | 22 | 44.8 | 34.3 | 75.2 | 2.4 | 3.7 | 6.0 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 9.3 |
| 2023-24 | HOU | 22 | 22 | 46.6 | 36.0 | 63.6 | 2.1 | 4.9 | 7.0 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 9.8 |
| 2024-25 | HOU | 22 | 23 | 47.6 | 30.3 | 76.7 | 2.3 | 4.2 | 6.5 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 11.3 |
| Total | 126 | 22 | 45.7 | 33.7 | 73.8 | 2.3 | 4.0 | 6.3 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 9.7 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
