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 possibility for the fifth season in 2029-30.
Houston Rockets middle Alperen Sengun signed a five-year rookie extension with a participant possibility
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 possibility since Luka Doncic and Trae Younger. The 6-foot-11 massive 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 possibility within the final 12 months.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) October 21, 2024
Sengun was chosen sixteenth general 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 sphere and 69.3% on the free throw line.
Nevertheless, his season was minimize quick by an ankle damage 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 recreation, 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 share (27%) have been profession bests as properly.
In December 2023, Sengun joined Blake Griffin and Shaquille O’Neal as the one NBA gamers within the 3-point period to common not less than 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 considered one of simply six gamers to common not less than 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 offered him with. He’s not even near reaching his ceiling and has a methods to go, however he’s had a fantastic 12 months. … His future is brilliant.”
Per Basketball-Reference, the Turkish hooper is slated to common 21.6 factors, 10.6 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per recreation this season. He’s additionally projected to shoot not less than 54% from the sphere 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.
