You can almost picture Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun traveling from city to city, performing impossible tasks in front of thousands as he gathered followers. An ethereal display of gifts that leaves crowds transfixed, his supporters heaping praise, and his father basking in the glory of his son’s saltation.
Sengun is quite possibly a generational talent. Only 21 years old, he leads the Rocket Men in points (1,331), rebounds (589), and steals (76). He’s only behind veteran floor general Fred VanVleet in assists (312) and blocks (46). On a trajectory that matches contemporaries such as Nikola Jokic, Domantas Sabonis, and Julius Randle, multiple All-Star selections appear to be in his future.
Ime Udoka Heaps Praise on Alperen Sengun
His head coach, Ime Udoka, believes he hasn’t even scratched the surface of his potential.
“He’s not even close to reaching his ceiling and he still has a ways to go, but he’s had a great year,” Udoka said before his team took on the Washington Wizards on Thursday night.
Being that it’s likely over, Ime Udoka was asked about Alperen Sengun’s season as a whole. “He’s not even close to reaching his ceiling and he still has a ways to go, but he’s had a great year,” said Udoka. “His future is bright, basically. All the things that we really… pic.twitter.com/kUa8DaKJhU
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“His future is bright, basically. All the things that we really challenged him with, he kind of stepped up to the plate there and improved in certain areas.”
He Knows What Greatness Is
A former defensive standout who played for multiple teams in his seven-year NBA career, Udoka has been teammates with multiple big men who went on to the Hall of Fame.
In 2003-04, Udoka’s rookie season, he was teammates with Shaquille O’Neal. O’Neal, then with the Los Angeles Lakers, was at the height of his powers. A colossal center with a ballerina’s feet, O’Neal’s only weakness was scoring outside the paint.
In 2006-07, Udoka was teammates with Zach Randolph and LaMarcus Aldridge, both with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Now, neither Randolph nor Aldridge are in the Hall of Fame. However, Randolph was a 3-time All-Star whom Udoka played beside while the former was in his prime, leading the Blazers with a career-high 23.6 points per game. Aldridge, then a rookie whom Portland selected second overall, may earn the induction as a seven-time All-Star.
Though more than capable of scoring down low, Randolph and Aldridge did what O’Neal could not do, spacing the floor with jumpers out to 3-point range.
Playing for the San Antonio Spurs in three of the next four seasons, Udoka would then spend time with the best player to be named, Tim Duncan. A two-time MVP, five-time NBA champion, and 15-time All-Star, Duncan is a bit more than a Hall of Famer. Many consider the keystone of the Spurs’ last dynasty to be the greatest power forward of all-time.
So fundamentally sound he earned the moniker “The Big Fundamental,” Duncan was a three-level scorer but also adept as a playmaker. Defensively, Duncan overcame his lack of explosiveness with the same dedication to technique and attention to detail that allowed him to dominate at the other end.
Udoka knows exactly what greatness looks like.
Will ‘Alpi’ Return This Season?
Sengun may be out for the remainder of the regular season after sustaining a Grade 3 ankle sprain. However, a Cinderella run in the 2024 NBA Playoffs could give Sengun enough of runway for a return flight.
If so, the Rockets can get their most reliable scorer back. While Jalen Green has been on a hot streak, Sengun is both more consistent and versatile. Scoring from the block to the arc, even against tight defense, Sengun’s dominance starts here.
They’ll get their most creative passer back. VanVleet’s basketball IQ and experience lend to his ability to be a facilitator. However, Sengun is imaginative, making passes out of the post and setting up shooters with dribble handoffs.
They’ll also get their best ‘tall guy’ back. Sengun is clearing boards and turning away shots at a higher rate than even 2022 No. 3 pick Jabari Smith Jr., who stands at 6-foot-11 and has a 7-foot-1 wingspan.
Invariably their most important player, the Rockets undoubtedly are holding out hope that “Alpi” has another miracle up his sleep.
