The Houston Rockets, their partners at Kroger and numerous players hosted Season of Giving events this holiday season.
On Dec. 14, the team hosted a holiday shopping event for families from Target Hunger, Wounded Warrior Project and Latter Deliverance Revival Church at the Kroger’s store on Studemont Street near downtown Houston. Rockets forward Tari Eason and center Boban Marjanović were on hand to present those families with gift cards, courtesy of Kroger, and to assist them with shopping.
During the Dec. 17 game vs. Portland, the Rockets and Kroger hosted a holiday party for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Houston. The children enjoyed the game from holiday-themed suites and were presented with gifts, in addition to Kroger gift cards for their families.
In recent days, the Rockets’ Christmas activities have included Jalen Green’s holiday bowling event for families from Julia C. Hester House on Sunday, Dec. 18; Eric Gordon’s holiday party for families at Ronald McDonald House Houston on Thursday, Dec. 22; and separate events by Kevin Porter Jr. and Jae’Sean Tate.
Scroll on for further details and highlights from each of these holiday events, along with accompanying photos and videos.
“My mom has always taught me the importance of giving back,” said Rockets forward Tari Eason as he teamed up Kroger and Boban Marjanović to host a holiday shopping event for families from Target Hunger, Wounded Warrior Project, and Latter Deliverance Revival Church. pic.twitter.com/6H2yXDf1Qb
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) December 15, 2022
“I think my mom can be proud of me, who I am, and who I became,” said Rockets center @BobanMarjanovic when I asked him about being embraced by all fans throughout the NBA. #LightTheFuse #Sarge @TheRocketsWire pic.twitter.com/3TKudCAuA5
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) December 15, 2022
Rockets guard Jalen Green surprised families today at a holiday bowling event for families from Julia C. Hester House. #LightTheFuse @JalenGreen @TheRocketsWire pic.twitter.com/rzsYms4MUq
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) December 19, 2022
Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green says that his upbringing has a lot to do with him giving back to the community. He also states that he wants to be a good example for his little sister and nephew. #LightTheFuse @JalenGreen @TheRocketsWire #Sarge pic.twitter.com/Mz2k4eJG7e
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) December 19, 2022
Truly what it’s all about 🙌🏼🎄Eric Gordon meeting with kids at the Ronald McDonald House in Houston.
Eric has been involved with @RMHC both in Houston & his hometown of Indianapolis for a decade.
The kids are also getting presents ❤️@TheofficialEG10 pic.twitter.com/HrebF5a3bE
— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) December 23, 2022
Fun night as @JalenGreen hosted a holiday bowling event & presented families with gifts. (This girl was extremely excited once she realized who he is 😂❤️) pic.twitter.com/zHSZwUb9Y1
— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) December 19, 2022
.@HoustonRockets star Eric Gordon (@TheofficialEG10)hosting a holiday party for families at Ronald McDonald House with gifts & dinner from Eric, Rockets & @kroger. Ronald McDonald House provides a home away from home for families with seriously ill children at the Medical Center pic.twitter.com/OTeCd6v5b0
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) December 23, 2022
.@HoustonRockets star Eric Gordon (@TheofficialEG10)hosting a holiday party for families at Ronald McDonald House with gifts & dinner from Eric, Rockets & @kroger. Ronald McDonald House provides a home away from home for families with seriously ill children at the Medical Center pic.twitter.com/FUqsje9L9N
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) December 23, 2022
.@HoustonRockets star Eric Gordon (@TheofficialEG10) hands-on, helping serve dinner to families at the Ronald McDonald House. Eric partnering with the Rockets and @Kroger to host the holiday party that includes gifts. pic.twitter.com/fB0eua6Ya5
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) December 23, 2022
.@HoustonRockets star Eric Gordon(@TheofficialEG10) thrilled to host a holiday party for families at Ronald McDonald House:”Houston’s been good to me. So it’s only right to be good to them,not just bring entertainment on the floor. It’s good to give back to good people n Houston” pic.twitter.com/LmvJ2c23aj
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) December 23, 2022
.@HoustonRockets guard Eric Gordon (@TheofficialEG10) disappointed he’ll miss tomorrow night’s game against Dallas with a left thumb contusion: “It’s tough, against a good team. It’s next guy up. We just got to have that approach. We’ll be fine.” pic.twitter.com/0pPI4XnExd
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) December 23, 2022
#Rockets forward Jae’Sean Tate (@o_tate_) partnered with @MattressMack to surprise Jennifer Martinez & her family, who live in Rosenberg, with 4 new beds & a couch. Their 5 children had been sleeping on air mattresses. Jennifer was very emotional when Jae’Sean gave her the news. pic.twitter.com/Ybf7wGD4oZ
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) December 20, 2022
#Rockets forward Jae’Sean Tate (@o_tate_) partnered with @MattressMack to surprise Jennifer Martinez & her family, who live in Rosenberg, with 4 new beds & a couch. Their 5 children were sleeping on air mattresses:”We helped a family that needed it. This is the season of giving” pic.twitter.com/AnLZbOlUrf
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) December 20, 2022
Academy Sports + Outdoors teamed up with Rockets guard @Kevinporterjr & surprised 20 kids with a holiday shopping spree. The kids, from Fort Bend Boys and Girls Club, got $300 to shop at @Academy which will also donate an additional $1,500 in gift cards to FB Boys & Girls Club. pic.twitter.com/VKYciY7lOn
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) December 21, 2022
.@HoustonRockets guard @Kevinporterjr hands-on helping the kids from the Fort Bend Boys and Girls Club shop at @Academy. For 20 kids Christmas came a few days early, with each getting a $300 gift card for a holiday shopping spree. pic.twitter.com/KNWWoBPC9D
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) December 21, 2022
.@Kevinporterjr thrilled to help 20 kids from the Fort Bend Boys & Girls Club shop at @Academy.Each got $300 gift cards: “I’ve always wanted to be the one to give back to my community.H-Town’s my home.I’ve been trying to be more in tune with my Houston supporters.This is a start” pic.twitter.com/VQCzYN8zbx
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) December 21, 2022
.@HoustonRockets guard @Kevinporterjr has teamed up with @academy to surprise 20 kids from the Boys & Girls Club of Fort Bend w/a $7500 shopping spree of a lifetime. “It’s the Christmas cheer…I want to build a happy family & I want to…see these kids faces in these moments.” pic.twitter.com/suYNuWBTDV
— Maanav Gupta (@MGSportsTalk) December 21, 2022
.@HoustonRockets guard KPJ talks about the impact the Boys & Girls club had on his life “When I was old enough to be in the program…I learned a lot from it & they’re not the best conditions when it comes to the buildings & locations, so I definitely can relate to these kids.” pic.twitter.com/EucJGYwIZa
— Maanav Gupta (@MGSportsTalk) December 21, 2022
Really cool seeing the moment @HoustonRockets guard @Kevinporterjr surprised the 20 kids from the Boys & Girls Club of Fort Bend with $300 gift cards each at @Academy & helping them buy gifts for Christmas! Awesome to see KPJ helping out the community. pic.twitter.com/OVxv5S6X2S
— Maanav Gupta (@MGSportsTalk) December 21, 2022
#Rockets guard @Kevinporterjr wants to be known as a community hero. He was really looking forward to seeing what the kids from the Boys & Girls Club would buy & also offered to give away his own jerseys in case the kids wanted that. KPJ is just full of class. Amazing guy. pic.twitter.com/YGoicXNmYI
— Maanav Gupta (@MGSportsTalk) December 21, 2022
#Rockets guard Jalen Green is hosting a holiday bowling event for families from Julia C. Hester House — which aims to enhance the quality of lives throughout Houston’s Fifth Ward and the surrounding community through programs and services promoting self-empowerment. pic.twitter.com/h6mxf72xKf
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) December 19, 2022
Awesome moment last night as Rockets guard, Jalen Green surprised a few fans at a local bowling alley.
Peep the little girls reaction at the end: pic.twitter.com/FhPnlG68YB
— Chancellor Johnson (@ChancellorTV) December 19, 2022
.@JalenGreen hosted a holiday bowling event for families from the Julia C. Hester House. It’s mission is to enhance the quality of lives in Houston’s Fifth Ward. Green being there was a surprise to the families & he brought gifts for them: “A lot of people aren’t really able…” pic.twitter.com/rTAgJhh5T7
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) December 19, 2022
