Alperen Sengun has been one of the few reliable bright spots for the struggling Rockets this season. Now he’s added a record-breaking triple-double to his accomplishments.
At 10-31, the Rockets currently have the worst record in the NBA, a not entirely unexpected development for the youngest roster in the league. Besides veteran shooting guard Eric Gordon, their starting lineup is loaded with players 22-and-under, including 20-year-old center Alperen Sengun.
In his second season, Sengun is averaging 14.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, shooting 54.9 percent from the field. He has already recorded 12 double-doubles this season and seven additional games with five or more assists.
With his versatile skill set, it was only a matter of time before he finally recorded his first career triple-double. He managed it Wednesday night in a loss to the Sacramento Kings, becoming the youngest center in NBA history to record a triple-double and the first Rockets to manage the feat since Chuck Hayes in 2011.
Is Alperen Sengun a future star for the Houston Rockets?
Sengun leads the Rockets in rebounds this season and ranks third in scoring, developing impressive chemistry with their other young pieces like Jabari Smith, Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green. He’s also been praised by other young players around the league, drawing some serious compliments from Anthony Edwards last week.
“Me personally, I think they need to build around number 28 [Sengun]. Jalen (Green) and KPJ (Kevin Porter Jr.) are franchise players also, but that dude is something serious. We had to game plan for him.”
Sengun has also been praised in postgame comments by players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Rudy Gobert, who said, “He has been getting better and better. I think he is very unique in the way that he plays.”
The best players in the NBA know what the Rockets have in Alperen Sengun. Now it’s time for the rest of the world to catch up and take notice.
Check out The Step Back for more news, analysis, opinion and unique basketball coverage. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our daily email newsletter, The Whiteboard.