Tari Eason

Houston refuses to fully unleash Tari Eason, but it doesn’t matter. He renders his impact in condensed bursts, rivaling the very best defenders in the NBA on a per-minute basis. Eason makes the most of limited playing time, wrecking everything in his path on defense and coming by enough offense to stay on the court and potentially expand his utility down the line.

He’s not a great shooter, but the 6-foot-8 Eason gets up enough 3s to make the defense think twice. That opens up the occasional straight-line drive and countless backdoor cuts. Eason has a knack for sneaking behind the defense and making himself available at the rim. He’s extremely intentional with his movements, even if it can appear out of control on the surface. Eason will finish at funky angles or simply explode for dunks. He’s active on the offensive glass, a willing screener, and a generally sharp connective piece. Eason doesn’t pass at a super high level, but he doesn’t turn it over either.

The defense, however, is what puts Eason on a pedestal. He might play the hardest of anyone in our NBA99. Let him roam passing lanes and he’ll find a way to muck things up. Task him with shutting down the opposition’s best player and Eason can like a barbed hook, using his length to its full effect. Houston puts him all over the floor and let’s him cook. It’s not always the most organized form of defense, but Eason gets in the way of what his opponents are trying to accomplish without fail. That motor runs hot; you can practically see the exhaust spilling onto the floor around him.