Alperen Sengun, the Houston Rockets center, showed glimpses of what he could be in the 2024-25 preseason opener against the Utah Jazz on Monday night. It will only be more airtime ahead of a possible contract extension. In his fourth season in the NBA, he immediately rose to the occasion and gave an all-around performance that made all growth shine through.
For his head coach Ime Udoka, the young big man is now ready to take flight for the pre-season battles to come.
Sengun's Impressive Stats for Limited Time
In 22 minutes on the floor, Sengun scored 17 points on 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. According to RocketWire, he shot 6-of-8 from the field (75%) and 1-of-2 from distance (50%).
Added to that, the Turkish center split all his four free throws to be perfect inside the arc, showing that he is indeed efficient and confident in his offense.
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Houston's Impressive First-Half Performance
It was not enough to win by 122-113, but the game's outcome was somewhat decided in its second half when both teams had to make do with their bench players. However, in the first half, the Rockets controlled the speed and the momentum of the game with stars like Sengun dominating the floor.
Sengun did a little bit of everything to keep the Rockets on top early-to prove himself valuable both on offense and defense.
Better Conditioning and Even Higher Hopes
Head coach Ime Udoka has truly loved the conditioning of Sengun, perhaps showing that the young center is finally reaping the benefits of the hard work he did during the summer.
When asked by Houston Chronicle Jonathan Feigen if Sengun conditioned better now, Udoka said that yes, the 22-year-old had conditioned better, which means even more consistent and impactful plays this season.
"I would say so. We get all the body comps and all that stuff. ... His lean muscle mass is better that it's been, and his weight is a little lower. He's in good shape, and we're going to need that from him to have a big season," Udoka said.
"He had a really good summer. He's gotten himself into tremendous shape... to be able to play on both ends, with that effort and intensity throughout," the 47-year-old coach added, referring to the next Nikola Jokic.
What's in the Future for Sengun and the Rockets?
Houston will play a few games, and Sengun and the Rockets will see if their early season momentum can continue. Their game is on Wednesday in Oklahoma City, with a 7:00 p.m. Central tip.
Viewership by fans and analysts will be at an all-time high to see if Sengun has more to give to his surprisingly good preseason appearances.
At this juncture with an extension contract looming in the air, Sengun's performance in the latest game, however, is an all-promise sign for the Rockets organization and the fans as well, indicating he could be one of the important players in their future.
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