News Summary
The Houston Rockets had a successful season, finishing with a 52-30 record. Rising star Alperen Sengun, a 22-year-old center, earned his first All-Star selection but missed out on All-NBA voting. He recorded impressive stats, averaging a double-double and leading the team in multiple categories during the playoffs. Despite debates about his offensive leadership, Sengun’s performance has him poised for future accolades as he enters into a new contract extension.
HOUSTON – The Houston Rockets celebrated a standout season in the 2024-25 NBA campaign, finishing with an impressive 52-30 record. Central to their success was rising star Alperen Sengun, a 22-year-old center who marked a significant highlight in his career by earning his first All-Star selection. However, despite his notable contributions leading the team to a top position in the Western Conference, Sengun was noticeably absent from the end-of-year All-NBA voting results.
During the voting process, Sengun received 40 votes for the All-NBA Third Team and 6 votes for the Second Team, accumulating a total of 58 points. He narrowly missed a spot on an All-NBA Team, falling just short of former Rockets star James Harden, who secured 68 points. This placed Sengun as the highest-voted player not to be selected, ranking 16th overall in the voting.
In the regular season, Sengun showcased his talents by averaging 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game, marking the first time in his career that he recorded a double-double average. His performance against formidable opponents was impressive, shooting 44% from the field against the Denver Nuggets and an efficient 48.8% against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Defensively, Sengun was active and adaptive throughout the season, demonstrating the ability to adjust to various defensive schemes. In the postseason, he was pivotal for the Rockets, leading the team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals during their playoff run. Sengun averaged 20.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.9 steals across seven playoff games, further solidifying his impact as a key player.
Sengun’s chemistry with guards like Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green flourished this season, as their two-man game improved significantly. However, there are ongoing discussions among analysts regarding the extent to which Sengun can lead his team offensively based solely on scoring. His strengths lie in decision-making and passing, indicating that his assist numbers could rise if teammates capitalize on the open shot opportunities he creates.
Looking ahead, Sengun is entering the 2025-26 season with a new five-year contract extension that reflects a substantial pay increase owing to his enhanced performance. The 2024-25 All-NBA First Team featured standout players such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Donovan Mitchell, and Jayson Tatum. The All-NBA voting process involved a global media panel of 100 voters who determined the selections for the First, Second, and Third Teams.
Sengun’s remarkable season indicates a rising status within the league, hinting at the possibility of future All-NBA selections. However, his omission from the All-NBA team raises questions about the voting process, suggesting that popularity may have influenced selection decisions over individual performance. As Sengun continues to develop his skills and contributions on the court, the Houston Rockets and their fans can look forward to an exciting future with their young center at the helm.
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- Sports Illustrated
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- Wikipedia: Alperen Sengun
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