Houston Rockets Exercise Team Options on Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun Tari Eason and Jabari Smith Jr.
HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets announced Monday evening that the team has exercised their fourth-year options for Tari Eason, Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr.
Green and Sengun are in their third season after they were selected during the 2021 NBA Draft.
Green was an All-Rookie First Team selection in 2021-22 and averaged a team-high 22.1 points during his sophomore season. He became the fifth player in league history to record at least 1,000 points and 200 free throw attempts as a rookie — joining Nate Archibald, Dave Bing, Bob McAdoo and Jerry West.
Sengun became one of 16 players in history to record at least 1,800 points, 1,000 rebounds, 450 assists, 100 steals and 100 blocks through the first two seasons of a career. Sengun joins Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid, LeBron James and Nikola Jokić as the only players to have averaged at least 19.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists to begin the 2023-24 season.
Rockets head coach Ime Udoka talks with center Alperen Sengun and guard Jalen Green (4) during the game against the Golden State Warriors at Toyota Center.
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Eason and Smith are in their second season after the Rockets drafted the former prospects during the 2022 NBA Draft. They were named to the NBA's All-Rookie Second Team selection following the 2022-23 season.
Eason was one of 10 players in the league who played all 82 games during the 2022-23 season. He finished his rookie year averaging 9.3 points and 6.0 rebounds in 21.5 minutes.
Eason's name is already in the company of a pair of all-time greats when he became the third rookie to tally 80 or more steals and 40 or more blocks since the 1980-81 season — joining James Worthy and Scottie Pippen.
Smith, at 19-year-old last season, became the first player in NBA history to have reached his totals of points, rebounds, blocks and 3-pointers made through the first 82 games played of a career.
