Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun is in the midst of a breakout 2023-24 campaign. Averaging 21.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.9 combined steals and blocks per game, the 21-year-old has displayed gifts that’s put him in conversations with Rockets great Hakeem Olajuwon and 2-time NBA MVP, Nikola Jokic. From his tap dancer toes to a touch as soft as a newborn baby, his picturesque performance has been a sight to behold.
Alperen Sengun Addresses Reports of His Demise
Last season, Sengun’s offensive potential was coming into focus. With a ceiling as high the Sistine Chapel’s, it was easy to see even then how he might excel as a go-to scorer or primary playmaker.
At 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot wingspan, Sengun doesn’t have outstanding length at the position. Fluid and flexible, it would be inaccurate to say he was an upper echelon athlete. However, staying true to the Euro archetype, Sengun entered the league as a fundamentally sound big man with a high basketball IQ. Though it’s not the case that all Euro centers are or become elite passers, Sengun was in the mold of playmaking pivots like 2010 Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Arvydas Sabonis.
A Night and Day Difference
For all his offensive skill, Sengun’s defense didn’t inspire a lot of confidence. He was mincemeat in the pick-and-roll, lacking the size or athleticism to slow down ball-handlers or bigs. He was a touchy defender, often racking up senseless fouls. In fact, last season he had the third-most personal fouls called in the NBA (258). He’s caused referees to blow their whistles for at least 200 foul calls in each of the last three seasons.
As a result, when the Rockets entered what was known to be a pivotal 2023 offseason, there was at least at much criticism of Sengun as praise. So much so that his starting spot was being challenged. This took place in the media initially, as with the hiring of defensive-minded head coach Ime Udoka leading to questions about Sengun’s future role. However, it took on new life with Houston’s pursuit of shot-blocker Brook Lopez.
Putting Their Chips on the Table
The league-leader in blocks last season, Lopez has long been regarded as a marquee player. In his youth, it was his two-way dominance with the Brooklyn Nets. His role has changed with age, and now he’s more of a specialist at both ends. However, when he entered free agency last summer, his strengths were highlighted for the advantages they could afford whatever team signed him.
Among the teams in heavy pursuit of his services were the Rockets. Rumored to have offered Lopez a two-year contract exceeding $40 million, Houston had put their remaining chips on the table.
Ultimately, after a bit of deliberation, the 35-year-old re-signed with the Milwaukee Bucks. For a minute though, it seemed like Lopez would join Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks as the Rockets’ splash signings. More than that, it appeared as if the Rockets had found their new starting center.
Sengun, transparent as ever, recently addressed that summer stretch in an interview with Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer.
“You know, of course, when you’re hearing [the rumors], you’re getting nervous, of course,” Sengun says. “You don’t want to lose your spot. But if [Lopez] was coming, I was ready for a fight.”
Taking the Defensive Challenge
Sengun’s personality, namely his desire for constructive criticism, has played a key role in his rise.
Indeed, his intangibles have been apparent throughout the season. Not only in his candid self-assessments or self-professed love for touch coaching. Though the path of his evolution has been littered with natural obstacles, his images of greatness have been woven into a steel fabric of confidence.
If anybody knew where he needed to improve, it was him. If anybody had the mentality needed to prove millions of detractors wrong, some of whom were clearly in the Rockets front office, it was him. The results of his ambition may be a bit unexpected. Nonetheless, there was never a question of Sengun’s willingness to improve.
“…I just know I have to do a better job on defense. If you want to win, if you want to be a ‘winner player,’ you have to do everything on the court,” Sengun continues. “I mean, Brook Lopez is a really good player. A really good defensive player, you know? But, I mean, he’s a good shot blocker.”
“I don’t think he’s as good one-on-one player [as me]. We have different physical body. Like, he’s so tall. He’s big. He can block all the shots. I know I can’t block all the shots… I don’t have long arms. I’m not [that] tall. I just need to be where I have to be and just stay vertical. To jump straight up and just make their job harder.”
On the topic of Sengun’s defensive development, Udoka says that the former first-round pick’s “IQ and his skillset is all there. It’s just a matter of maturing and kind of taking that step, and he’s done that.”
“He took that step initially right when we got to camp,” Udoka continues. “He kinda took that challenge on and he’s been really good this year.”
