TORONTO, CANADA – OCTOBER 29: Tari Eason #17 of the Houston Rockets celebrates after scoring against the Toronto Raptors during the second half at Scotiabank Arena on October 29, 2025 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/Getty Images)
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Tari Eason and the Rockets made headlines just before the start of the regular season when the two sides failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension for the fourth-year forward prior to the deadline to do so. Per reports, Houston offered Eason a contract worth over $100 million, though details are unknown. Now, Eason will play out the final year of his rookie contract and will become a restricted free agent in the 2026 offseason. Under the rules of the league’s collective bargaining agreement, the Rockets can match any offer Eason receives from other teams.
Essentially, Eason bet big on himself and thus far, his bet is paying off. Eason has been sizzling hot from the floor in the early going, shooting 51.7% overall and 53.1% from long distance; he has averaged 12.3 points and 5.2 rebounds in 24.5 minutes per game. Eason has been a major part of Ime Udoka’s bench in Houston and an important piece to a Rockets team that has started the season 7-3 and is currently third in net rating and first overall in offense.
Eason struggled mightily in the Rockets’ first two two games of the season, against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons, both losses; since then, in eight games, he has shot a scorching hot 57% from long distance on 5.5 attempts per game. He hasn’t looked like he’s trying to do too much anymore, instead, setting up in the corners for wide open shots generated by the attention teams are giving to center Alperen Sengun and forward Kevin Durant.
What happens this summer will be key. The Rockets already extended fellow fourth year forward Jabari Smith Jr. last summer to a five-year, $122 million contract. And they are expected to offer rising superstar Amen Thompson to a maximum extension next summer, if he continues upon his current trajectory. Has Eason played himself out of Houston’s comfort zone? While the Rockets have the right to match any offer he receives, they may not be able to make the cap math work any longer if Eason’s market value continues to rise. Houston signed forwards Josh Okogie and Dorian Finney-Smith in free agency last summer with Okogie already paying huge dividends. They could be Eason insurance.
Houston will have time to sort things out. For now, they’re happy Eason is contributing so greatly to their hot start to the season.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rahathuq/2025/11/13/tari-eason-off-to-hot-start-in-early-going/
