Based on his toughness and versatility on both ends of the court, Houston Rockets forward Jae’Sean Tate appears likely to make the All-NBA Rookie Team for the 2020-21 season. However, as he heads toward 2021-22, Tate already sees a clear area of needed improvement.
“I have to become a better knock-down shooter, so they can stop putting the five on me,” Tate said before Friday’s home finale versus the Clippers. “It’ll make it a lot easier for me, and ultimately make it easier for my team, as well. Just continue to improve on every aspect of my game. Being versatile, there’s certain things that you have to work on. The more versatile you are, the more you need to get in the lab and work.”
Tate is averaging 11.3 points (50.3% FG), 5.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 29.3 minutes per game this season, and he’s also one of Houston’s most valuable defenders. However, Tate is shooting just 29.8% on 3-pointers, which has allowed many teams to defend him with a center — who often sags back toward the paint and takes away driving lanes.
There’s another way of framing that statistic’s importance. In Houston’s 16 wins with Tate playing this season, he’s shooting 40.7% on 3-pointers. In 52 losses, that figure dips to 28.0%.
But with his notoriously strong work ethic, Tate is confident that he can improve that deficiency with time. As evidence, he points to the odds that he’s already overcome to be in All-Rookie conversations.
“I think it would be a big accomplishment, especially coming in undrafted, having to go overseas for a stint just to get here,” Tate said. “It definitely would be an achievement. It already is an achievement to be in the talks. Nobody really saw me being in the position I am, at the beginning of the year. I’m just trying to go out there and play my heart out, play my butt off. All the recognition will come with that.”
