The Rockets won an overtime victory against the Jazz in a closely contested game. Defeating Utah 127-126, Houston’s Alperen Sengun continued to impress. But what’s making the rounds on the internet is a now-deleted conversation between Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason’s mother. Eason, who had been sidelined since January 1st, is yet to make a return to the court.

The since-deleted tweet showed a wholesome conversation between the two, which revealed how the 23-year-old is doing now.

Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason’s mother’s conversation reveals the forward’s condition

Smith asked Tari’s mother, Teroya Eason, to detail what exactly happened. At the time, he was on the edge of the tunnel and all that could be seen was Tari limping off. His mother said that the young forward had rolled his ankle, but he was recovering well. Jabari shared comforting words while asserting that Tari was a stubborn fighter and it wouldn’t be long before he was back on the floor.

Smith isn’t wrong there. One of the 10 players to play all 82 games in the 2022-23 season, Tari Eason averaged 9.3 points and 6.0 rebounds in 21.5 minutes. This led him to join Jabari Smith Jr. among others, as one of the five players in the All-Rookie Second Team Selection.

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Eason’s name has been brought into conversations in the company of some of the league’s legends. He joined James Worthy and Scottie Pippen as the third rookie to have 80 or more steals and 40 or more blocks since the 1980-81 season! Just another example of why the Rockets got the best of the deal in Tari.

Eason’s injury history

The 6’8 Virginia native has been free from the injury bug until the fated exhibition game vs the Pacers on October 10, 2023. Jalen Smith rolled on Eason’s leg in the preseason game and since then, he’s been on the injury list. What shouldn’t have taken more than a week or two turned into one of his longest rest periods.

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Even though Tari appeared in a few games, mostly with a minute restriction, they only resulted in a stress reaction. And that effectively sealed the deal for the No. 17. Not used to being out of the action for so long, Eason had a hard time adjusting to his new schedule. As reported by Adam Spolane of Sports Radio 610, Coach Udoka had said, “He’s been itching to get out there and even when he played, he played with some pain … so for him, it’s helping him, saving him from himself.”

Udoka further goes on to elaborate that during the times he would pop up for games, the amount of pain he showed wasn’t anywhere near the actual pain he felt. Seeing Tari struggle from within, Ime advised him to look at it like a “marathon”.

Hopefully, he will take his coach’s advice to heart and not let this bring him down mentally.

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