The Alperen Şengün File
Team: Houston Rockets
Height: 6-9
Weight: 235
Age: 20
Birthday: 7/25/2002
Draft: 16th overall pick, 2021 NBA Draft
Contract: Signed a 4-year, $15.55 million rookie contract in 2021
Rewards/Accomplishments
- Türkiye Sigorta Basketbol Süper Ligi MVP (Turkish league), 2020-21
- League leader in field goals (Turkey), 2020-21 (203)
- League leader in offensive rebounds (Turkey), 2020-21 (119)
- League leader in points scored (Turkey), 2020-21 (557)
- League leader in field goal percentage (Turkey), 2020-21 (.646)
Another NBA international success story
Alperen Şengün got to experience what life was like in the professional basketball world much faster than some NBA prospects stateside. At age 17, he was battling it out amongst players much older than him in the Turkish basketball league, one of the top international leagues in the world. He put together an MVP season for Besiktas at age 18, before making his way to the United States for the NBA Draft at age 19.
Now a year into his career, Şengün didn't jump off the page in his rookie year, but has settled in nicely in year two. The sophomore Rockets' big man has become a triple double threat every night, drawing attention around the league from players like the Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards, who has said the Rockets organization would be wise to build around Şengün.
Şengün possesses a fairly unique free throw routine, where he talks to the ball as part of his ritual at the charity stripe. Maybe all that talking has made him close friends with the ball. Whatever it is, something has clearly clicked for Şengün, making him just another NBA success story from overseas.