Rockets' Alperen Sengun Injury May Cost Him Most Improved Player Award

Alperen Sengun's injury could cost him more than just time away from the Houston Rockets.

Jeremy Brener | Mar 14, 2024

In this story:

Houston Rockets

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun has been one of the top centers in the NBA this season, taking a massive step in his progress.

After averaging 14.8 points per game last season with the Rockets, Sengun increased his scoring average to 21.1 points, making him a candidate for the league's Most Improved Player of the Year award.

However, Sengun suffered a bone bruise and ankle sprain in Sunday's win against the Sacramento Kings, which held him out from Tuesday's win against the San Antonio Spurs. There's a chance Sengun will need weeks to recover from his injuries, likely costing him the season.

Sengun may be the most improved player in the league, but if he were to sit for the remainder of the season, he would be ineligible for the award.

The league adopted a new rule this season that required players to play at least 20 minutes in 65 games to be eligible for awards. Sengun has played in just 63 games so far this season.

There's a chance Sengun could return for the final week of the season if his injuries heal quickly (and if the Rockets can creep closer towards playoff contention), but Houston would be wise not to rush him back and allow him to rest throughout the offseason — even if he isn't able to hoist the shiny trophy.

Rockets' Aggressive Defense Shuts Down Victor Wembanyama in Win vs. Spurs

The Rockets, without Sengun, will play again tonight against the Washington Wizards at home. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.

Published Mar 14, 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.