Tari Eason is a vital part of the Houston Rockets‘ young core, known for his defense and energy both on the court and in Houston’s locker room. Eason showcased his talents beyond basketball Wednesday night.

Eason attended the show featuring legendary musical groups The Temptations and the Four Tops at the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land, experiencing a performance by a group whose music dates back to 1961. He couldn’t stay a passive spectator for long and eventually joined lead singer Dr. Otis Williams on stage, then performed a beautiful cover of a hit song that will turn 60 in 2025.

“My question is this: check this out. Do you know this song?” Williams asked as the beat to “My Girl” dropped.

Eason replied with a melodic “I do,” then let his pipes do the work. Eason is known as one of the most fan-friendly Rockets’ players, a cheery face and upbeat voice. That pattern continued as Eason joined a Motown legend on stage.

Our description does little justice to Eason’s performance. Are all the right notes hit? Perhaps not. Is the joy of “My Girl” properly conveyed? Most definitely.

Eason made the most of his summer, traveling to Marrakech, Morocco, in June for the NBPA’s One Court Africa summit. He also finished the offseason with a Wednesday concert in the Houston area. 

Houston will start its training camp next Tuesday in preparation for the 2025-26 season, where Eason is expected to play a key role as a high-minutes reserve forward. Eason might also have financial considerations in the coming weeks. He is eligible for a rookie-scale extension at any time before Opening Night on October 21, but has not yet signed any new contract as of Thursday.

2025-26 marks a year of high expectations for both Eason and the Rockets. Houston’s young forward snuck in some more fun Wednesday night, causing the crowd in Sugar Land to roar just as he often does at Toyota Center in Houston.

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