The Houston Rockets are coming off an impressive season that saw them finish second in the Western Conference standings with a 52-30 record.
Unfortunately for Houston, they were upset in the first round of the playoffs by the Golden State Warriors in seven games.
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Due to this, the Rockets felt that changes were needed this offseason as they pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Phoenix Suns that sent Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and multiple draft picks in exchange for Kevin Durant.
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots the ball as Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28)Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Houston also added Josh Okogie, Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela to their roster this offseason to bolster their rotation.
With these moves, along with the core of Durant, Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson leading the way, Houston is expected to be a major championship contender this season.
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Kendrick Perkins Gives High Praise to Alperen Sengun
Of course, Sengun has been one of the Rockets’ key players since they selected him 16th overall in the 2021.
Houston Rockets center Alperen ŞengünAlonzo Adams-Imagn Images
The 23-year-old center has turned into one of the best big men in the league and former Boston Celtics champion Kendrick Perkins recently gave him high praise during his dominant run during EuroBasket.
“He is a top five big in the NBA,” Perkins said about Sengun. “Not just because of the points, not just because of the rebounds and assists, but he actually plays defense at a high level.”
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This is high praise coming from Perkins and he does make a solid point about how Sengun can do everything on the court.
The star center has proven that during EuroBasket this summer as he has led Turkey to the semifinals during his dominant run.
During EuroBasket, Sengun is averaging 21.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.9 blocks per game while shooting 59.6% from the field and 37.5% from three.
He is also coming off a game where he recorded a triple-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in Turkey’s victory over Poland, becoming the youngest player in EuroBasket history to record a triple-double.
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Of course, Sengun has also been dominant in the NBA over the past few seasons, including making his first All-Star team last season.
While that may be the case, Perkins’ statement of him being a top five big man in the league may be a bit premature, though he has made a strong case over the past few seasons.
Either way, Sengun will now look to lead Turkey to a championship during EuroBasket before returning to the United States where he will look to help the Rockets win a title this season.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Sep 11, 2025, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.