22 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 threes, and one statement game, which made Tari Eason re-announce himself. It wasn’t supposed to happen this soon. Not after a week of trade whispers, contract stalemates, and underwhelming box scores. Yet there he was, flying across the court in neon-pink sneakers like a man on a mission.

In Houston’s 137–109 win over Brooklyn, the Rockets forward posted his first career 20-5-5 game, doing it all while debuting Angel Reese’s new sneaker, the Angel Reese 1s Mebounds. This was a 24-year-old forward with something to prove, laced up in arguably the season’s hottest sneaker. And after Eason’s breakout, Reese couldn’t resist jumping in on the conversation herself.

Angel Reese took it to X, posting: “MEBOUNDS LOOK FIREEEE 🔥💕💖💓💞 @TAR13ASON @teroyaeason.” Eason’s mother, Teroya, reposted the clip with a playful poke that sealed the night’s excitement. “More like Lucky charms! Them two pink mfs brought him back to life young Queen!” she wrote.

Maybe it’s the kicks, maybe it’s confidence. Or maybe Houston’s second unit just found its spark at the right time. After opening the season averaging just 3.5 points through two games, the same Tari Eason who once called out ESPN for not ranking him in the Top 100 finally had something louder than words. He had a performance. 

Houston outscored Brooklyn by 21 points in Eason’s 26 minutes. He shot 5-for-7 from deep after starting the season 1-for-5. The energy and efficiency? It all clicked. And yes, it came wrapped in pink.

And well, this is the same Eason who watched extension talks crumble just weeks ago. According to Shams Charania, negotiations between Eason and the Rockets were tough on “multiple fronts.”

He’s now playing on a $5.7 million team option, and if Houston doesn’t move him by February 5, the franchise can match any offer in 2026. That’s business. But nights like this complicate business fast. Eason’s rise has always lived somewhere between chaos and potential.

Did Reese’s Mebounds bring back Tari Eason?

A defensive problem, a transition nightmare, and now, apparently, a sneaker headline. When healthy, he’s one of the most impactful bench players in the league. But staying on the court has been the issue. Eason has played a total of 164 regular-season games in his career with the Rockets so far. If this version of Eason holds up, Houston’s rotation, and maybe its financial planning, will need revisiting.

And it’s not like Eason’s breakout came from nowhere. He’s been patiently building toward this moment. Clips of his workouts with Amen Thompson went viral last week, which visibly showed his handles tighter and his jumper smoother. Even then, the shoes stood out.

The black-and-violet “Charm City” colorway of Reese’s line. Monday night, he switched to “Mebounds.” So, would it be a coincidence or a strategy? Depends on who you ask. 

For Angel Reese, it’s marketing gold, to say the least. For the Rockets, it’s an unexpected balance. And for Eason, it’s freedom. And maybe that’s the sweet spot. He’s playing like a man who doesn’t need validation anymore. Every steal looks personal.

The irony is that it took pink sneakers and a little family banter to remind everyone what he can do. So yes, maybe it was the shoes. Or maybe, finally, it’s just Tari Eason being Tari Eason. Either way, Houston won’t mind finding out.