Houston Rockets big man Alperen Sengun is among the most talented young centers in the NBA. A first-round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Turkey, he has already made impressive strides in his first two seasons in the league.
As a rookie, Sengun saw only 20.7 minutes per game, playing a supporting role mostly off the Rockets’ bench. He averaged 9.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.9 blocks while showing great promise.
Sengun appeared in 72 games that season, starting only 13. But, in Year 2 of his career, he was a clear-cut starter, appearing in 75 games and starting 72. An uptick of minutes was provided, and Sengun made the most of his opportunities.
Despite the Rockets operating like a rudderless ship throughout the season, the Turkish standout had a strong sophomore season. He saw his minutes jump to 28.9 per game, and his statistics all increased.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets, Nikola Jokic & Denver Nuggets Updates
Sengun averaged 14.8 points on an efficient 55.3 percent from the field. A big reason for the jump in efficiency was that he stopped shooting 3-pointers as much, cutting his attempts in half from his rookie season but making nearly as many.
He also grabbed 9.0 rebounds with 3.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks. Heading into Year 3 with a new head coach in Ime Udoka, it is anyone’s guess what Sengun’s role will be this season. But, he is certainly preparing for another breakout as he is looking to learn from two-time MVP, Nikola Jokic.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets, Nikola Jokic & Denver Nuggets Updates
While the two aren’t teammates, Sengun will take the court with Jeff Green, who spent the last two seasons with the Denver Nuggets. The young center is interested in learning as much as he can about Jokic, picking Green’s brain on several topics, such as preparation.
“He’s intrigued. I guess he has heard those comparisons in the last year or two,” Green said of Sengun, via Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated on X, formerly known as Twitter.
That kind of initiative is something you love to see in young players. Sengun wants to do everything he can to improve his level of play to become the best player he can be. Learning from a center as dominant as Jokic is a good way to do that, as Sengun does have some similarities in his game as a budding playmaker from the center position.
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