Houston Rockets middle Alperen Sengun has agreed on a five-year, $185 million rookie extension, his brokers Sean Kennedy and Jeff Schwartz of Excel Basketball introduced Monday. His extension begins subsequent season and features a participant choice for the fifth season in 2029-30.
Houston Rockets middle Alperen Sengun signed a five-year rookie extension with a participant choice
Monday was the deadline for groups to increase contracts with first-round picks from the 2021 NBA draft class. In any other case, the gamers would enter restricted free company in 2025.
Sengun, 22, is the primary participant to signal a five-year rookie extension with a participant choice since Luka Doncic and Trae Younger. The 6-foot-11 large man earned a third-place end in Most Improved Participant voting final season.
Houston middle Alperen Sengun has agreed on a five-year, $185 million rookie extension, his brokers Sean Kennedy and Jeff Schwartz of @excelbasketball, tells ESPN. The contract features a participant choice within the final yr.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) October 21, 2024
Sengun was chosen sixteenth total within the 2021 NBA draft by the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder earlier than being traded to the Rockets. The decide initially belonged to the Boston Celtics as a part of the Kemba Walker-Al Horford deal.
In 63 video games (all begins) final season, the middle averaged profession highs of 21.1 factors, 9.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 32.5 minutes per contest. Plus, he shot 53.7% from the sector and 69.3% on the free throw line.
Nevertheless, his season was reduce quick by an ankle harm in March. The breakout star averaged 14.8 factors and 9 assists within the 2022-23 season. This got here after he averaged simply 9.6 factors and 5.5 rebounds as a rookie.
Sengun set a few NBA information final season
Alperen Sengun completed 14th in rebounds per sport, nineteenth in offensive rebounds (183), seventeenth in field plus/minus (4.9), and thirteenth in defensive field plus/minus (1.7). His participant effectivity ranking (22) and utilization proportion (27%) have been profession bests as effectively.
In December 2023, Sengun joined Blake Griffin and Shaquille O’Neal as the one NBA gamers within the 3-point period to common at the least 29 factors, 14 rebounds, and 4 assists over a three-game span earlier than the age of twenty-two.
Over that three-game stretch, Sengun averaged 29.7 factors, 14 rebounds, and 4.7 assists whereas capturing 52.5% from the ground, 40% from past the arc, and 84.4% on the foul line.
Moreover, Sengun was certainly one of simply six gamers to common at the least 21 factors, 9 boards, and 5 dimes final season. The opposite gamers have been Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Julius Randle, and Nikola Jokic.
Rockets coach Ime Udoka says Sengun has improved defensively throughout the board
Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka praised Sengun after final season’s breakout marketing campaign.
“The expertise stage is actual. It’s what you see on movie and play towards. [And] he’s taken a step so far as that,” Udoka stated in an interview with The Athletic. “Competitiveness and going up towards particular matchups proper from day one.
“I believe he’s improved defensively throughout the board, a few of the issues and challenges we’ve introduced him with. He’s not even near reaching his ceiling and has a methods to go, however he’s had a terrific yr. … His future is vibrant.”
Per Basketball-Reference, the Turkish hooper is slated to common 21.6 factors, 10.6 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per sport this season. He’s additionally projected to shoot at the least 54% from the sector and 31% from 3-point vary.
With Sengun’s newest signing, he joins teammate Jalen Inexperienced, who additionally agreed to a three-year, $106 million deal on Monday. Each gamers secured long-term offers as members of the 2021 draft class.
