Alperen Sengun followed a breakout 2025-26 with 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists a game, numbers that put touch and vision ahead of size at center. Houston's offense ran through him last year, and he carries a clean health report into the opener.
Last season
Sengun played 72 games at 33.3 minutes, averaging 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists on 51.9 percent shooting. The assist number is the outlier: few centers run an offense from the elbow the way he does. His true shooting sat at 56.9 percent on a 25.9 percent usage rate, proof the touches matched the production instead of padding a box score.
Last season, in the lineups
Two five-man groups built around Sengun carried heavy positive net ratings: Durant-Okogie-Sengun-Smith Jr.-Thompson posted a plus-10.3 net across 377 minutes, and a Durant-Sengun-Smith Jr.-Eason-Thompson unit added a plus-9.1 mark over 306 minutes. Houston's best stretches ran through him at center, not around him.
This preseason
Sengun cleared a day-to-day tag on October 15 and carries no listing into the opener. The Athletic's season predictions piece flagged a bigger offensive load for him as Durant, at 38, is expected to score less and defend more. Camp additions Caleb McConnell and Bryce Harris joined the roster October 17 without touching his spot in the rotation.
This season
Sengun is making $35.6 million this season, the second-largest salary on Houston's $205.5 million payroll behind Durant's $43.9 million. That number matches his standing: the Rockets built this roster's offensive identity around his post touch and passing rather than around a ball-dominant guard, and nothing this fall has threatened that plan.
Ahead
Houston opens the regular season October 21 against Dallas, the same team it split with twice in preseason. Sengun's defensive rating sat at 113.7 last season against a 117.1 offensive rating, a plus-3.4 net that lagged the team's plus-5.4 mark. Tightening that gap, more than adding scoring, is the clearer path to a better verdict this year.
Is Alperen Sengun injured?
No. He was cleared from a day-to-day tag on October 15 and carries no injury listing into the regular-season opener.
What were Alperen Sengun's stats last season?
He averaged 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists over 72 games in 2025-26, shooting 51.9 percent from the field with a 56.9 true shooting percentage.
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