Considered a “Baby Jokic”, Alperen Sengun continues to prove that he is undoubtedly the player who comes closest to the double MVP, NBA champion with the Nuggets. Better still, the young Turkish pivot has, at only 21 years old, still untapped potential which leaves more than one Rockets fan dreaming, tired of three years of drought without playoffs. He is Houston’s best scorer and rebounder, and the No. 2 passer.
Already going from 9.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists between his rookie season and 14.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists last season for his second campaign, the young Turkish pivot of the Rockets is doing even better at the start of the season, at 20.9 points. , 8.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists, all at 59% shooting success, including 35% at 3-points.
A strong axis with Fred VanVleet
A success that “Alpi” puts down to the beneficial arrival of veterans Fred VanVleet and Jeff Green, two NBA champions. But which can also be attributed both to the change of coach and to Alperen Sengun himself, on an impressive progression curve since his debut in 2021.
“We were like a university team [ces dernières saisons]. Of course we wanted veterans who could teach us [les ficelles] and could show us the way. It is obvious “he explains for The Ringer. “Now we have two players who have won titles in the team and they talk to us a lot. We learn a lot from them. We love it! »
In close collaboration with his leader, new to the club, particularly on the inevitable pick & roll, Alperen Sengun was immediately in the mix with FVV. The proof is that the two Rockets are, after Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren of the Pistons, the duo who exchange the most passes on average in the NBA.
Alperen Sengun, future All-Star?
The difference is notable both to the naked eye and in terms of advanced statistics: when Alperen Sengun is on the court, the Rockets score on average 8.8 points (over 100 possessions) more than their opponents. When he is on the bench, the Rockets are -5.6 points (per 100 possessions).
Readily accepting the comparison with Nikola Jokic, Alperen Sengun motivates himself by considering him as a model to follow. A model that evolves to a “monstrous level”, which the Turk hopes to reach in turn. Particularly with this little shot on one foot, à la Dirk Nowitzki, which he has really made his own this season.
With its current production, and collective results also on the rise, Alperen Sengun can aim high, and decently hope to reach its first star next year, or the following season. Especially since with Ime Udoka now in Houston, he has something to answer for on the bench.
“I like coaches who are hard on me. Sometimes I lose my concentration. When I work with coaches who throw tantrums, it wakes me up. It’s good for me. »
A tacit contract that Ime Udoka confirms. He’s all smiles too. “When I arrived, he told me he wanted to be coached the hard way, as was the case for him in Europe. And so, I willingly comply and do what he asked” smiles the former Celtics technician.
Ime Udoka compares him to Arvydas Sabonis
Having passed through the famous P3 sports science center in Santa Barbara during the summer, after having grown two centimeters (!), Alperen Sengun aimed to work on his legs to strengthen them and become more explosive in the attack of the circle. Zach Collins and Daniel Theis have already paid the price this season, posterized!
On the dunk over Daniel Theis in this case, Alperen Sengun set several screens, from different angles, to dissect the Clippers defense and access the circle with ferocity.
“I really think his basketball IQ is higher than people think”concludes Ime Udoka. “He really understands the game. For a guy his age, he can do a lot of things that guys like Jokic do. There are the spectacular passes, behind the back, blind, all that is very good. It also reminds me [Arvydas] Sabonis, me growing up in Portland. Sometimes it almost seems like he’s bored and he’ll try a really difficult pass because he sees the play before anyone else. »
| Alperen Sengun | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2021-22 | HOU | 72 | 21 | 47.4 | 24.8 | 71.1 | 1.9 | 3.5 | 5.5 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 9.6 |
| 2022-23 | HOU | 75 | 29 | 55.3 | 33.3 | 71.5 | 3.2 | 5.8 | 9.0 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 14.8 |
| 2023-24 | HOU | 12 | 32 | 58.8 | 34.6 | 60.9 | 2.8 | 5.9 | 8.8 | 5.7 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 20.9 |
| Total | 159 | 25 | 53.0 | 28.5 | 70.5 | 2.6 | 4.8 | 7.4 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 12.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
