2021 Turksish League MVP Alperen Sengun was the No. 16 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. The Oklahoma City Thunder had the rights to the selection. But the Thunder traded it to the Houston Rockets in exchange for the 2022 Detroit Pistons’ and 2023 Washington Wizards’ first-round picks. Both picks had relatively hefty multi-year protections attached to them. The pick protections add to the fact that the Rockets won the trade to obtain Sengun.
Top 25 NBA Players Under 25: No. 19 – Alperen Sengun
Sengun didn’t have an overly impressive rookie year, averaging only 9.6 points in 20.7 minutes per game. However, his game and opportunity significantly jumped in his sophomore campaign last season. Last year, his minutes increased to 28.9 minutes per game. Sengun capitalized, averaging 14.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.9 blocks, and 0.9 steals on 55/33/72 shooting splits. Sengun already impacts winning in multiple aspects, which the Rockets’ organization and fans must be excited about. His developmental trajectory suggests he should only have a better third season.
Sengun’s Fit in Houston
The most notable trait about the Turkish center is his passing – at 3.9 assists per game, Sengun is a willing passer who makes his teammates better. Houston is rebuilding around their young foundational pieces, including athletic guards Jalen Green and Amen Thompson. The 21-year-old Sengun is a vital part of their core due to his complementary skill set.
Additionally, Sengun can already space the floor with his 33 percent shooting from three last season. At 6-foot-11, 243 pounds, Sengun can score in one-on-one matchups in the post but is at his best finding the open man when the defense collapses. His size, post-game, and rebounding ability were a large part of what initially made him a mid-first-round pick.
Defensive Impact
One aspect of Sengun’s game that is currently underrated is his defense. According to FiveThirtyEight’s RAPTOR player ratings last season, Sengun was better on the defensive than on offense. Defensively, he had a +1.3 rating. Analysts and fans often associate Sengun with his offensive skill set and passing, mainly because it’s more flashy. However, Sengun can be part of an elite-level team defense as the anchor, as someone who averages nearly a block and steals a game. One defensive aspect Sengun will have to improve is his versatility – he could be a more agile center, which sometimes makes him a liability when switched out onto the perimeter in pick-and-roll situations. Besides his defensive switchability, Sengun contributes to winning in multiple aspects and is a well-rounded center who is underrated as a two-way player.
ALSO READ: Alperen Sengun 2021 NBA Draft Profile
