Jae'Sean Tate

Tate is an American forward who entered the NBA with the Houston Rockets in 2020 after a winding path through Belgium and Australia. An Ohio State product and the son of former Buckeye Jermaine Tate, he went undrafted in 2018 but became only the second undrafted player in NBA history to earn All-Rookie First Team honors. He has remained with Houston throughout his NBA career.

Born on October 28, 1995, Tate is the oldest son of Jermaine Tate, who played at Ohio State and Cincinnati before a professional career overseas. His mother, Cori Key, was killed in 2004. After her death, Tate was raised by his father and stepmother, Jenice. He attended Pickerington High School Central, where he was a teammate of Caris LeVert and won a Division I state championship as a sophomore. As a junior, he averaged 22.3 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists before a shoulder injury shortened his season. He finished as the top-ranked player in Ohio and the 15th-ranked forward nationally in the ESPN top 100.

Tate played four seasons at Ohio State. As a freshman, he earned Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors, averaging 8.8 points and five rebounds. He missed the final seven games of his sophomore year with another shoulder injury. As a junior, he led the Buckeyes in scoring with 14.3 points per game and contemplated quitting basketball before coach Thad Matta and assistant Greg Paulus persuaded him to return. As a senior, he averaged 12.3 points and 6.2 rebounds, set an Ohio State record by going 10-for-10 from the field against Northeastern, and finished as the program—s 19th-leading scorer with 1,512 points.

After going undrafted in 2018, Tate joined the Milwaukee Bucks Summer League but was unable to play due to a fractured finger. On August 20, 2018, he signed with the Antwerp Giants in Belgium, where he was a league all-star and helped the team win its first Belgian Cup in 12 years. In 42 league games, he averaged 10.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists. On July 22, 2019, he signed with the Sydney Kings of the Australian NBL, where he averaged 16.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists and was named to the All-NBL First Team.

Tate signed with the Houston Rockets on November 26, 2020. He made his NBA debut on December 26, playing 37 minutes and recording 13 points, four rebounds, and two assists against Portland. He started a team-high 58 games as a rookie and averaged 11.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, earning All-Rookie First Team honors. On December 1, 2021, he scored a career-high 32 points along with 10 rebounds, seven assists, five blocks, and two steals against Oklahoma City, becoming only the second Rocket after Hakeem Olajuwon to achieve those totals in a single game. On July 6, 2022, he re-signed on a three-year, $22.1 million contract.

Tate is a 6-foot-4 forward who plays both small forward and power forward. He is a predominantly left-handed player with a strong drive and finishes well at the rim, converting 69% of his attempts as a rookie. His defensive tenacity and physicality have drawn comparisons to P.J. Tucker. He is capable of guarding multiple positions, setting screens, and contributing as a connector on both ends of the floor.

Tate re-signed with the Rockets on a one-year, $3 million contract on July 1, 2025. In 2024–25, he averaged 3.6 points and 2.3 rebounds in 52 appearances. On February 23, 2026, he was ruled out for four to six weeks with a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his right knee.