{"id":156158,"date":"2025-08-24T10:33:25","date_gmt":"2025-08-24T14:33:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=156158"},"modified":"2025-08-24T10:33:25","modified_gmt":"2025-08-24T14:33:25","slug":"first-time-all-star-alperen-sengun-rockets-most-important-player","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/08\/24\/first-time-all-star-alperen-sengun-rockets-most-important-player\/","title":{"rendered":"First-Time All-Star Is Rockets Most Important Player"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite the fact his new team doesn\u2019t look at him as their centerpiece<\/a>, Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant<\/a> is capable of being the team\u2019s No. 1 option. Just last season, the 36-year-old averaged 26.6 points and 4.2 assists per game on .527-.430-.839 shooting splits. An elite shot-creator and shot-maker that excels at converting difficult looks in three dribbles or less, he\u2019s a 15-time All-Star for a reason.<\/p>\n

From that perspective, Rockets center Alperen Sengun<\/a>\u2019s averages from his inaugural All-Star season (19.1 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 4.9 APG) aren\u2019t as eye-popping as Durant\u2019s. With that in mind, it isn\u2019t often a player that outscored his future teammate by +7.5 points per game the previous season would be asked to be second-in-command.<\/p>\n

Yet, when factoring in Sengun\u2019s play style, he\u2019s a natural fulcrum.<\/p>\n

Alperen Sengun Is Rockets Most Important Player<\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s get straight to the point.<\/p>\n

Durant\u2019s role next season should be somewhat similar a mercenary. Instead of over<\/em>burdening himself with getting his teammates involved, he can picked teams apart with his off-ball shooting and 1-on-1 scoring ability. That isn\u2019t to say he\u2019ll have no<\/em> playmaking responsibility. Just that if he focuses on what he\u2019s best at while letting Sengun pull the strings, the offense should run smoothly.<\/p>\n

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And when the offense flows through Alperen Sengun\u2019s work in the post, his gravity forces defenses to collapse onto him<\/p>\n

When they do, his playmaking & passing jump out, as he\u2019s able to take advantage of cutters and open shooters with his vision https:\/\/t.co\/TAMoa1JFCI<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/vD5vSUvQwZ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) August 23, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n