Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason finished with a rare stat line and calmly anointed himself as one of the top rookies in the NBA on Wednesday after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Eason recorded a career-high 20 points, 13 rebounds, three steals, two blocks and one assist to help the Rockets to their third win in five games. He shot 8-of-21 from the field, including 1-of-2 from 3-point range, in 19 minutes off the bench.
It was his work on the glass that stood out, though.
Eason hauled in 12 rebounds on the offensive end alone and became the first rookie since Alex Stepheson (March 2016) to reach that mark in a game. It was only the third time ever that a player hauled in 13 total rebounds with 12 on offense.
"I have never seen someone get 12 offensive rebounds, and 13 total," Rockets coach Stephen Silas said. "He did everything that he does: Got out in transition, finished at the rim, 50-50 balls. He made some plays defensively. Obviously, he was on the offensive glass."
Eason finished with his third straight double-double with the performance, and his fourth overall of the season. He is posting 18 points, 11.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.7 steals and one block on 46.9% shooting from the field over that span.
The 17th pick is averaging 8.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.1 steals and one assist in 51 games. He has started only three times, but is on pace to become the third player to average at least eight points, five rebounds and one steal in fewer than 20 minutes per game in a season.
The recent uptick in play comes as Eason was left out of the Rising Stars game as voted on by the assistant coaches across the league. Though 11 first-year players were selected, Eason was perhaps the biggest snub from the event.
That, Eason said, has lit a fire in him of late.
"I want to show that I belong as one of the top rookies in this league," Eason told Vanessa Richardson of AT&T SportsNet Southwest. "I believe I'm one of the top rookies in this league and I just wanted to come out there and put everybody on notice from here on out."
Despite not earning a place in the Rising Stars game, Eason has emerged as one of the top rookies this season. He has the ability to affect games in a variety of ways seemingly every night, and has the tools in the place to be a regular starter in the NBA.
It is just the start for Eason.
"(I'm) just working on different finishing, better touch with my left hand and things like that," Eason said. "Learning when to pick my spots, when to score and getting over screens. Really, everything has kind of improved. I'm just trying to keep improving from here."
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Story originally appeared on Rookie Wire
