Alperen Sengun is carving out his place as one of the most promising players in the NBA. The young center for the Houston Rockets has turned heads with his stellar performances, quickly establishing himself not just as a potential All-Star but also as a legitimate contender for the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
Drafted in 2021 alongside teammate Jalen Green, Sengun has become the linchpin of the Rockets’ success this season. With the team currently boasting a commendable record of 22 wins and 12 losses, they are sitting comfortably in the top four of the competitive Western Conference. This resurgence can be attributed largely to Sengun’s consistent contributions on both ends of the floor.
According to NBA.com's Shaun Powell, Alperen Sengun has muscled his way onto the MVP ladder, ranking tenth with impressive averages including 19.1 points, 10.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. These stats place him alongside established NBA stars like Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns, underscoring his growing influence on the game.
What truly sets Sengun apart from his peers, though, is his ability to facilitate play and lift his teammates. While his scoring output has dipped slightly from last season—when he averaged 21.1 points per game—his overall contributions have increased. His well-rounded game now includes more assists, making him the kind of center who can also play the role of floor general, contributing over five assists per game, along with maintaining his double-double averages.
The Rockets have prided themselves on their collective brilliance, with Sengun being the standout star. Teammates like Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green also play significant roles, but it’s Sengun who has emerged the most this season. His presence on the floor has undeniably had a ripple effect, enabling the Rockets to pivot from last year’s subpar outing, where they finished 41-41, just missing the Play-In Tournament.
This year, as they solidify their playoff berth, Sengun's candidacy for MVP grows stronger by the day. The combination of his individual prowess and the Rockets’ success makes for a compelling narrative. While the general perception might lean toward high-scoring players as league MVPs, Sengun’s case is built on efficiency, versatility, and leadership, proving invaluable for his team's ambitions.
If the Houston Rockets keep winning and climbing the standings, Sengun's name will continue to rise alongside the elite, solidifying his status not just as the team’s franchise star but as one of the league's prominent players. The 22-year-old is on the cusp of something remarkable, and fans are all eyes on how far he can take this newfound success—both for himself and for the Rockets.