Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka called on Alperen Şengün to assert himself on the court after the team’s narrow loss to the Phoenix Suns, Eurohoops reported.
The Rockets fell 101-99 to the Suns on November 8. Şengün returned from injury and finished with 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Udoka addressed the media post-game, offering a direct assessment of Şengün’s performance and expectations.
In his press conference, Udoka provided a detailed breakdown of Şengün’s role in the defeat. He noted that Şengün started the match slowly, appearing unprepared early on.
“He had a slow start,” Udoka stated. “He looked a bit unprepared at the beginning of the game, but he shifted up a gear in the fourth quarter. He had a great fourth quarter.”
Alperen Şengün sahanın her yerindeydi!" 💬 Koç Ime Udoka: "Alperen muazzamdı. Üçüncü çeyrekte kendi ritmini bulduğu o iyi sekansta takımı resmen sırtladı. 6 top çalma yaptı ve sahanın her yerindeydi. İçeride çok yırtıcıydı. Potaya çok daha rahat gidiyor. Bence artık uzaktan… pic.twitter.com/zgFlHpj6Aw
The coach’s message, however, was not limited to Şengün alone. He emphasized that the entire starting unit needed to be more ready from the opening tip.
“It’s not just him; all five of the starters need to come ready from the start,” Udoka added. “There were some careless plays and missed easy shots.”
The core of Udoka’s feedback focused on Şengün’s physical presence. He pointed to missed opportunities where the team, and Şengün specifically, failed to capitalize on matchups.
“The whole team missed close shots,” Udoka explained. “But especially, Alperen needs to go out there and impose his weight against the guys we feel he can have a matchup advantage over.”
The loss to Phoenix was a tight contest, decided by just two points. Multiple players, particularly from the starting lineup, failed to convert shots near the basket, a factor that proved costly in a game of such slim margins.
Şengün’s individual performance was a mixed bag. While he was impactful in the final quarter, his slow start contributed to the Rockets’ early struggles. His stat line of 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists reflects a solid all-around game, but the coach’s remarks suggest it could have been even more dominant.
For Şengün, Udoka’s directive is a signal to assert himself on the court.
The Rockets will look to build on this near-loss as they continue their NBA season schedule.
