Under The Radar: Alperen Sengun's steady improvement
Alperen Sengun is displaying huge potential with the Rockets.
The Houston Rockets have not had an ideal start to their 2022-23 campaign, sitting at 5-16 in the Western Conference, but they may have found their center of the future in Alperen Sengun.
Going into the season, the Rockets were never considered a contender in the West, so their record is unsurprising. Instead, it seemed that the Rockets’ main goal was to prioritize developing the second-youngest roster in the NBA. They would build around their 2021 and 2022 lottery picks Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr., preparing the two for future NBA stardom. While Green and Smith may be the faces of the Rockets’ rebuild, it’s 20-year-old Turkish big-man Alperen Sengun that is flying under the radar this season as an emerging franchise cornerstone in Houston.
In just his second season in the NBA, Sengun has already taken a monstrous leap in his sophomore campaign. Through 18 games in 2022-23, he is averaging 15.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 block per game on 55% shooting. He has made significant jumps in PPG (5.9), RPG (3.6) and field goal percentage (7.6%) since last season.
Among second-year players, Sengun has the highest player impact estimator (13.3), 4th most PPG, and 5th best offensive rating (114.2). Among second-year centers, he is first in points, assists, and rebounds per game. Sengun is showing the Rockets why they traded up to select him with the 16th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Born and raised in Giresun, a town in northeast Turkey, Sengun turned pro in 2018 at only 16 years old, playing in the Turkish First League, the Turkish Super League, and the Basketball Super League. In his last season in Turkey as a member of the club Besiktas, Sengun was named MVP of the league. On that same day, he announced that he was going to enter the 2021 NBA Draft.
As of late, Sengun has been on a roll. On Saturday against the Thunder, he led the Rockets to their 5th victory of the year with 21 points, a career-high 19 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 blocks, and 3 steals.
Alperen Sengun scores 21 points against the Thunder.
Two days after his dominant night, Sengun challenged his childhood idol Nikola Jokic with no fear. The two shared a friendly embrace before the game, but as soon as the whistle blew, the two were friends no more. Sengun proceeded to beat the Joker in the tip-off and make 5 of his first 6 field goals against the Serbian big.
The 20-year-old wasn’t afraid of the reigning back-to-back MVP, who has 40 pounds and six years of experience on him. Sengun backed him down, baited him on shot fakes and went after him on the block en route to an 18-point 7-rebound performance. Sengun followed that up with another impressive outing on Wednesday with 18 points and 11 rebounds against Jokic and the Nuggets, displaying maturity and poise.
“The man is talented,” Jokic said after Monday’s game. “He can pass the ball, post up, has the touch and is a good finisher around the rim. I think they should play through him more.”
Although tagged as a center, Sengun isn’t your typical big man. He is often dubbed a ‘point-center’ because he passes, moves, and drives like a guard with a 6-foot-11, 243-pound frame. His elite vision also allows him to make flashy behind-the-back passes and incredible inside-out looks, finding teammates on the arc from inside the paint.
Sengun ranks 10th in drives per game among centers in the NBA (3.8), driving with finesse, atypical of centers who often drive down the lane with no regard for defenders in their path. Instead, Sengun utilizes his footwork to stealthily pass defenders on his way to the rim.
Sengun faced his childhood idol Nikola Jokic twice in November.
Sengun has crafty, effective moves in the post as well, ranking 12th in the NBA in post-ups per game (3.8) while shooting 59.3% when posting up, 5th among qualified players. He also finishes strong through contact instead of flailing to draw a whistle.
His versatility has led to lots of meaningful minutes in Houston. Among players drafted in the 2021 Draft class, he ranks 11th in both career minutes played and minutes per game this season (26.8).
Because the Rockets are in a rebuilding phase, Sengun has been able to capitalize on playing time, and he is receiving due praise as he’s proved he can hang with the NBA’s best. The 20-year-old is key to the Rockets’ future and the Turkish big man will only continue to take advantage of his playing time throughout the season.
Sengun and the Rockets are back in action on Saturday against the Warriors.
