Updated July 21, 2026, 9:25 p.m. CT
At 23 years old, Rockets center Alperen Sengun has earned NBA All-Star selections in consecutive years.
But Houston still seems to believe that the talented Turkish big man — who will soon begin his sixth NBA season — can reach an even higher level.
When addressing the growth of Houston’s young core of prospects and what the organization thinks it needs to contend in the Western Conference, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne said:
I think Sengun is really the big guy that they are looking forward to making that big step. He started off the year so strong, and then kind of tapered off toward the end.
I know they had some difficult conversations at the end of the year, just saying: ‘This is what we need from you. This is what we expect from you.’ In terms of habits, and growth throughout the season.
He’s been called ‘Baby Joker’ (Nikola Jokic) for a while. He has that skill set. They love him as a person, and the sooner he takes that next step, the sooner this team gets there.
Shelburne didn’t elaborate on the specifics of those conversations, though it is worth noting that Sengun’s defensive impact metrics slipped in his fifth NBA season (relative to year four). He also committed a career-worst 3.2 turnovers per game.
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Whatever the case, it would seem the conversations had an amicable resolution, since Sengun remains on the roster and is clearly an important part of Houston’s blueprint for the season ahead.
The Rockets are coming off back-to-back years with 52-30 records in the regular season before bowing out in the first round of the West playoffs. With that in mind, the obvious task for general manager Rafael Stone and head coach Ime Udoka is to improve upon that showing.
In 2026-27, the simplest path to a breakthrough would be a better roster. Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams, and Kevin Durant (mostly) were all sidelined by injury in the 2026 playoffs, and the Rockets recently signed Marcus Smart in free agency. All should be available when training camp opens in late September.
But another leap forward from Sengun and other members of that young core — namely Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr., and Tari Eason — could certainly help that cause, as well.
Last season, Sengun averaged 20.4 points (51.9% FG, 30.5% on 3-pointers), 8.9 rebounds, and a career-high 6.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game. His 24th birthday is this Saturday.
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