During his media day appearance on Monday, Houston Rockets big man Alperen Sengun spoke about his contract status. Sengun, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, has spent the first three seasons of his NBA career with the Rockets. And, according to the 22-year-old himself, he hopes to stick around for a little bit longer.
In talking about his contract, Sengun said that he and the Rockets have started negotiations. Furthermore, he made it clear he is hopeful they can come to terms on a contract extension.
Alperen Şengün makes it clear he wants to sign a contract [extension] with the #Rockets now
“We’ve been talking .. I want to get the contract .. They are trying to negotiate with us [and vise versa] .. It’s been good .. We’re going to make it work .. Hopefully we make it work” pic.twitter.com/gWbSiU2LFE
— 𝘍𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘦𝙎𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙣 (@FranchiseSengun) September 30, 2024
Sengun is coming off a career year for the Rockets. Last season, he averaged 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. All these numbers are career bests for the big man. Furthermore, he shot 53.7% from the field and finished third in Most Improved Player voting.
Houston Rockets Budding Star Wants Contract Extension
An Alperen Sengun Extension is a No-Brainer for the Rockets
Sengun is already considered one of the league’s best young stars. Keeping him around for the long haul is an obvious move for the Rockets. He has already made it clear he wants to remain in Houston, and he has the potential to be a top star in the NBA. Additionally, he has already received high praise from some of the game’s biggest stars.
Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal once compared Sengun to Hall of Famer and two-time NBA champion Pau Gasol. Additionally, Hakeem Olajuwon sang his praises for the Turkish native as well.
“I think he plays all around,” Olajuwon said. “He moves. He drives on the floor. He plays between power forward and center. He shoots 3s. So he has adapted; he has adjusted his game to fit any style. He loves the post. If he gets a chance to post up, he finishes on both sides. And he shoots 3s, so he plays a complete game. He has good passing that he’s using at the top of the key to hand the ball over, and sometimes if his player overcommits, he drives. So he’s playing a very complete game that fits any style — it fits our era or this era. I think he finds a perfect balance between the old school and the new school.”
The Last Word
Given that Sengun will be a restricted free agent next summer, it seems likely that he will remain in Houston past this season. Last year, the Rockets finished with a 41-41 record. Despite a push late in the season, they failed to make it to the postseason for the fourth straight year. However, their 41 wins were the most since the 2019-20 season. They are not title contenders yet, but there is a lot to be excited about in Houston next season.
