In the modern NBA, few young players embody the raw, kinetic energy of the game quite like Tari Eason. Since arriving in Houston as the 17th overall pick in 2022, Eason has carved out a reputation as a “stat-sheet stuffer”—a relentless defender and opportunistic scorer who seems to be everywhere at once. But before he was anchoring the Rockets’ second unit or providing the energy that Ime Udoka craves, Eason was a young prospect navigating the high-stakes world of college basketball, starting with a pivotal stint at the University of Cincinnati.
His journey from a four-star recruit in Seattle to a standout Bearcat, and eventually an SEC Sixth Man of the Year at LSU, is a testament to his “go where you’re wanted” mentality. In this wide-ranging conversation, Eason reflects on the historical weight of the Cincinnati program, the specific NBA legends who shaped his earliest basketball memories and the personal motivations that keep him hungry as he establishes himself as one of the league’s premier young wings in 2026.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: You started your college career in a city with deep basketball roots. What did you actually know about University of Cincinnati basketball before you stepped on campus?
Tari Eason: What did I know about Cincinnati? That they’re a historical program, you feel me?
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Every great program has its legends. Who were some of your favorite guys to come out of Cincinnati that you looked up to?
Tari Eason: Kenyon Martin, Sean Kilpatrick… me, you know what I’m sayin’? A lot of the guys didn’t come back and give us no love so I can’t really say that I knew or talked to anybody from Cincinnati, but let me think… like, I never knew Kenyon Martin but I played with his son. So we never really spoke, you know what I’m sayin’? So it’s hard to say but I knew they wanted me. You go where you’re wanted.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Every kid has that one “lightning bolt” moment. Which NBA player was the one who really inspired you to start playing?
Tari Eason: LeBron. That’s the first memory I have of basketball is coming upstairs to my uncle’s room and watching dude taking off from the free throw line and I’m like, “Who’s that?” And he’s like, “LeBron James.”
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Speaking of generational scorers, what are your thoughts on Kevin Durant and the impact he had on your era growing up?
Tari Eason: KD? I knew about him especially when all the kids in the ‘hood had his shoes — his Nike Elite socks went triple, triple TRIPLE platinum with the youth.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: You mentioned that first memory of LeBron. Looking back, what specific games or moments really stood out to you about his game?
Tari Eason: Shit! He took off from the free throw line! And I was like, “Who the fuck is that?” As a kid you really don’t know what’s going on especially at 3. But basketball’s been part of my life. My mom played, so it’s just been something that I have been born to do.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: You play with a very specific type of edge. At this point in your career, what is it that truly inspires you?
Tari Eason: What inspires me? My family, this money I don’t have and that’s about it! [laughs]
Eason’s journey is a blend of destiny and deliberate choice. Growing up with a mother who played the game, the sport was less of a hobby and more of a birthright. That early exposure to greatness—whether it was witnessing LeBron James’s physical dominance or the cultural phenomenon of Kevin Durant’s footwear—helped build the foundation for a player who now brings that same excitement to the Toyota Center.
Even his time at Cincinnati, while brief, connected him to a lineage of toughness epitomized by guys like Kenyon Martin, a grit that clearly remains in his DNA.
As Eason continues to evolve into a cornerstone for the Rockets, his focus remains remarkably grounded. He isn’t playing for the approval of the legends who came before him; he’s playing for the legacy he is building for his family and the future he is securing for himself. In a league filled with polished stars, Eason’s candidness and “born to do this” attitude are exactly what makes him one of the most compelling figures in Houston’s bright future.
