Alperen Sengün is the Houston Rockets’ whiz kid and is thriving under new head coach Ime Udoka. The young Turk is the anchor of the Rockets offense and, with the new additions, is primarily responsible for the upswing. We clarify: What makes Sengün so special – and what did he learn from Dirk Nowitzki and Nikola Jokic?
Sometimes the best moves are the ones you don’t make. Quite a few people wondered over the summer what the Houston Rockets would do with all their cap space after it emerged that interest in James Harden had waned on the advice of new coach Ime Udoka.
There were enough construction sites in the squad, but with Udoka, who is known as a defensive coach, it was no surprise that Brook Lopez was one of the Texans’ dream players. We don’t know how close the Rockets ultimately were to getting the 35-year-old out of Milwaukee, but the Bucks had to make a huge stretch (2 years, $48 million) to convince the center to stay.
Who knows how the season would have started with Splash Mountain. But even without one of the best shot blockers in the NBA, the Rockets got off to a furious start in the new season with a record of 6-3 and the third-best defense in the NBA. At this point it should be noted that Houston benefited from seven home games in a row, but they also have to be won first. Especially one against the champion from Denver with none other than Finals MVP Nikola Jokic.
Alperen Sengün: The anchor of the Rockets offense
Although Jokic put up 36 points, 21 rebounds and 11 assists against the Rockets, the Serb still had words of praise for his opponent Alperen Sengün afterwards. The 21-year-old who probably would have only come off the bench if Houston had actually gotten their hands on Lopez.
“It’s good that they let their offense run more through him,” Jokic said of the Turk. “The whole team benefits from it. He’s not selfish, plays for the team, shares the ball. When he has the ball, the whole team moves. I think he did a good job today.”
Sengün has been doing well all season; So far, the 2.11 meter giant is averaging 19.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 6 assists. Houston finally manages to use the Turk better. Already at Udoka’s inaugural PK, the coach said that this was a priority – and so far Sengün has not disappointed in this role.
Alperen Sengün: Finally in the right system
On the contrary. The “Baby Jokic” comparisons are coming more often than ever, even if this is of course a bit exaggerated. It’s a bit like Draymond Green, whose style of play cannot be copied. It’s the same with Jokic, whose game is so unique that the best you can do is be a worse copy. This is not intended to detract from Sengün’s achievements, but the Turk, who was drafted by Besiktas in 2021 in 16th position, is still at the beginning of his career.
Two factors play an important role in Sengün’s empowerment: on the one hand, the new coach Udoka, and on the other hand, the arrival of Fred VanVleet, with whom Sengün spends almost the entire time on the field. It was sometimes frustrating how often the Turk was ignored by his guards last year. Instead, it was a “your turn, my turn” offense in which Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. fired away.
Porter Jr., in particular, was unable to direct an NBA offense, but had to leave the team after allegations of domestic violence. It’s debatable whether new point guard Fred VanVleet was really worth a max contract, but for these young Rockets his presence is worth its weight in gold. The former Raptors playmaker is a good defender and, above all, is free of airs and graces and willing to share the ball, especially with Sengün. “FVV” has successfully found its center 27 times so far, only Halliburton/Turner (39) and Maxey/Embiid (35) are better duos this season.
Alperen Sengün: A bit of Jokic and also a pinch of Nowitzki
Although Sengün only has a good five more touches per game in the frontcourt this season, the ball moves faster thanks to good decisions and more movement around the fixed point. And then there is his own offense, with which he doesn’t have to hide from the best at his position.
This season, Sengün manages the rare balancing act of being used more often and also scoring more efficiently. On the one hand, this is because there is now a clear system, and on the other hand, it is also due to the improvements in your own game. He worked on his game, especially from the middle distance now throws in Dirk Nowitzki’s one-legged fadeaway more often. Added to this is his somewhat unconventional floater, which is, however, very successful.
They are all further additions to his already very well-rounded offensive game. He has the rare combination of good post moves, excellent footwork and powerful drives that he can deliver again and again, even though Sengün is usually at a disadvantage when it comes to weight. And yet you can always see how he can throw real guys like Jonas Valancinuas or Jokic off balance, so that they can no longer defend the drive properly.
Alperen Sengün: The Udoka effect in defense
Speaking of defending: Here too, the Rockets are hardly recognizable anymore. Of course, the additions of VanVleet and the previously extremely strong Dillon Brooks help here, but Sengün is now part of a defense that better suits his skills. Under Stephen Silas, the Turk was still a center who, like Lopez, was supposed to defend the pick’n’roll in the drop, i.e. stay under the basket, which simply didn’t make sense. Sengün not only lacked the length and athleticism, but also the understanding of this strategy.
Instead, Udoka is choosing the Jokic version here this season: Sengün now defends much higher, attacks the ball handlers in the pick’n’roll much more aggressively and tries to disrupt the passing lanes. If Sengün has defensive strengths, it is his quick hands: among the five, only Deandre Ayton (2.9) and (of course!) Jokic with 3.4 deflected balls per game top it.
“He’s improving game by game,” Udoka recently praised Sengün’s defense. “He’s so talented offensively, but he also grinds it out at the back and that makes the difference.” Like Jokic, Sengün will never be a true anchor of a defense, but good positional play and basketball IQ can hide a lot of things. This is also what Sengün does, who as a helper is always good for a highlight block.
Alperen Sengün: The face of the Houston Rockets
All of this makes him a cornerstone of the three-year-long rebuild in Houston, which is finally gaining momentum this season. Jalen Green (#2 2021), Jabari Smith (#3 2022) and injured rookie Amen Thompson (#4 2023) were all drafted higher than the Turk, but due to his offensive genius and ability to play on both ends of the field , Sengün is one step ahead of his colleagues and the face of the new Rockets.
Is that really enough for the playoffs? This is almost irrelevant, because after many confusions in recent years, a direction, a vision is finally visible again. And no one embodies this more than Sengün – who might not have started at all if Houston had actually gotten Brook Lopez.
Alperen Sengün: His stats in the NBA (as of November 17, 2023)
2023-11-17 07:15:00
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