Houston Rockets rookie Tari Eason didn't hide his feelings in early February when asked about his omission from the upcoming Rising Stars event.
The annual gathering of first-and-second-year players featured a trio of Rockets on the initial roster, with guard Jalen Green and frontcourt players Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen u015eengün slated to take the floor in Salt Lake City on Friday night. Eason affirmed a reporter's opinion that he should be named to the team during a postgame session with the media, noting he viewed the slight as further motivation for his budding NBA career.