The Ringer Names Rockets stars Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green Top 125 Players

The young Houston Rockets duo have laid foundations to build flourishing careers on in the 2022-23 NBA season, garnering media recognition.

The Houston Rockets have been a moribund franchise for the better part of the last three seasons, yet their young talent have been glimmers of hope. Among their best are Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green -- two talented building blocks that have put up impressive stats this season.

The Ringer released their top 125 NBA players list and included both Sengun and Green, saying:

"No. 101 [Sengun]: Crafty young big man with some retro flair and a penchant for throwing his weight around.

No. 123 [Green]: Stunning points machine capable of scoring above the rim, deep behind the line, and everywhere in between, though he must refine the edges of his game."

Sengun, 20, has excelled in his second season in the league. Promoted to the starting center role and earning eight more minutes than in his rookie campaign, the Turkish big has become one of the better playmakers across the NBA, scoring 14.7 points per game along with 3.8 assists on 55.5 percent shooting from the field. 

While he plays the game rather adagio, Sengun has shown a gift of getting to his spots and making the right plays on the floor. Sengun has remarkable footwork for a player his size, mastering the spin move and drop step at such an early stage of his career.

He also controls the glass with verve. Houston has won seven of their 16 wins this season when Sengun records a double-double with 10 or more rebounds. 

Further down the list, Green just made the cut at No. 123. It's only taken the former 2021 No. 2 overall pick two seasons to emerge as a 20 point per game scorer in the association.

While his shooting percentages are alarming -- 41.0 percent from the floor and 78.4 percent from the free throw line -- he is also asked to generate much of the Rockets' offense with next to no veteran help, partly contributing to his inefficient clips. 

Nevertheless, Green can get up there with the trees in the paint and possesses peripheral capabilities -- 3.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game -- that figure to improve with experience. 

The Rockets have high hopes for their budding talent, and have their fingers crossed that both will blossom into franchise cornerstones that can bring the franchise back to relevance; playoff relevance that is.

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