The recent talk of the town among Houston Rockets fans has been none other than Alperen Sengun. Affectionately dubbed "The Wall" by Rockets fans, this young player has completely won over the discerning hearts of Houston with his outstanding performances. As a rookie selected in the first round as the fourth pick last season, Sengun is only in his second year but has already established himself as a top-tier defensive powerhouse and a formidable perimeter defender. It's no surprise that he's expected to be named to the All-Defensive Team this season!
Sengun's game is explosive, and his physical attributes are exceptional. In today's victory against the Memphis Grizzlies, he even managed to block Ja Morant's layup one-on-one, despite Morant having pushed Sengun back half a step before attempting the shot. Sengun's leaping speed, which is renowned throughout the league, left Morant in awe as the ball was swatted away just as it neared the basket. Morant could only shake his head in disbelief, wondering where this spring-loaded man had come from!
Indeed, describing Sengun as a "spring-loaded man" is quite apt, but his game is much more than just using his jumping ability. Sengun's greatest attribute is his rebounding prowess, with a strong sense for rebounds, excellent instincts, a sturdy physique, and strong individual and help defense on the defensive end. On offense, he excels at fast breaks and cuts, and is also very effective in second-chance opportunities; he's a man who plays above the rim. When the Rockets first drafted him last year, his position was listed as a guard, but after a season of experimentation, coach Stephen Silas found the right approach, transforming a guard into a top-tier versatile forward.
In fact, Sengun is a classic example of the "positionless" player in modern NBA basketball. He can defend from the point guard to the center position, and offensively, he's not limited to playing inside or outside. This season, Sengun has played in 36 games and was suspended for two games after a takedown of Tyler Herro in a game against the Miami Heat. He has started in 9 games this season, and in those 9 games, he recorded double-digit rebounds in 7 of them. Recently, Sengun has been delivering impressive stats, scoring 23 points and 16 rebounds against the Lakers, 20 points and 15 rebounds with 4 assists and 3 steals against the 76ers, and today against the Grizzlies, he contributed 19 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 5 blocks!
With 16 rebounds! 15 rebounds! 13 rebounds! The Rockets have another rebounding fanatic, while the guard has been transformed into an interior player! A few days ago, Rockets center Steven Adams was called a rebounding fanatic for grabbing 9 rebounds in 13 minutes against the Lakers, including 6 offensive rebounds. Now, the Rockets have another rebounding fanatic in the form of the 201cm tall Alperen Sengun, who has been contributing double-digit rebounds in several consecutive games. This season, he averages 7.7 rebounds in 28.8 minutes, which translates to 9.8 rebounds per 36 minutes. For a player who started out as a guard to average nearly 10 rebounds, he's not just a rebounding fanatic; he's a rebounding machine! No wonder Rockets fans are now saying that the combination of Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green on the wing is the future of the Rockets!
