Rockets: 2 reasons Tari Eason compares to a future Hall of Famer
2. Eason's leadership skills correlate to Butler's
If there is a superstar whose game you want guys like Eason to be following closely, guys like Jimmy Butler and Kawhi are right there at the top of the top. Butler especially fits the bill because of his somehow amicable and hard-nosed attitude that appeals more to the kind of leader you can see Tari becoming down the road.
The main difference between the two, when it comes to their personalities, is the locker room polarity. We already know from his Instagram Live feeds, the way he carries himself on the court, and the words of the man himself, that Tari is a fun-loving guy who looks to lead by example.
He brings people together and his mere presence fosters a fun environment that will stop at nothing to win.
He's already been typecast as a role player because of his skillset and how crowded this Rockets lineup is with veterans and hopeful stars and maybe that's what his NBA career will amount to. He might just be an electric role player that pushes every team he's on toward winning.
But, he just might be the kind of player that's able to transcend his limitations and elevate himself into superstardom by sheer force of will.
Like I said at the beginning, it can be dangerous for our expectations to start comparing young players to the best guys in the league. Tari probably won't ever be Jimmy or Kawhi, and that's ok.
But the hope is, by following their games while he continues to grow into his own, that he will be able to work himself into the star version of himself.
So to answer the question, "is Tari Eason the next Jimmy Butler?" Who knows? Probably not. But, I can say with full confidence he'll be THE Tari Eason, and that is going to mean something someday.