Can Rockets' Alperen Sengun Make All-Star Team?

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun could warrant All-Star consideration.

Jeremy Brener | Sep 6, 2024

Mar 10, 2024; Sacramento, California, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) reacts during the second quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports / darren yamashita-usa today sports

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Houston Rockets

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun is one of the best young big men in the NBA, and he could be taking things to the next level.

Sengun flirted with All-Star consideration in the middle of last season, but he ultimately missed out in favor of veterans Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers).

However, Bleacher Report writer Grant Hughes believes Sengun has the ability to make the roster this season.

"Şengün projects to be the fulcrum of the Houston Rockets offense again this season. Surrounded by young talent with great odds of improving, the skillful-yet-physical big man might lose a point or two off the 21.1 he averaged last year. But that could be offset by an even bigger spike in assists," Hughes writes. "Already one of the best facilitating bigs in the league, Şengün could join Nikola Jokić and Domantas Sabonis as the only centers to post multiple seasons with at least 5.0 assists this century. After dipping a toe into the three-point waters last year and finding them a little chilly (29.7 percent on 1.8 attempts per game), Şengün could really up his shot at an All-Star berth if he takes a full plunge from deep."

The first All-Star team is the hardest one to make, and Sengun's status will likely be determined on where the Rockets are in the standings. The better Houston does in the first half of the season, the more likely Sengun is representing the team in San Francisco at the All-Star Game in February.

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Published Sep 6, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.