Alperen Sengun is taking an important leap that could make him genuinely unstoppable

As the Houston Rockets have soared to a 5-2 record, they have been fueled by a series of sublime performances from their star center, Alperen Sengun, that, if they were to become a nightly occurence, could quickly cement him as one of the best centers in the NBA.

Yet, despite the highlight plays and the flashy scoring stats, Sengun has made one relatively unnoticed development in his game that could make all the difference; he's getting to the free-throw line at an unprecedented rate.

Following his 20-point double-double against the Memphis Grizzlies, Sengun is now averaging 8.9 free-throw attempts per game, and, as a career 70.3% shooter from the charity stripe, this could mean a serious elevation in his scoring averages that could put him in contention for a host of awards.

Alperen Sengun is earning, and making, his free throws at a rate that could make him unstoppable

Even with superstar-caliber scorer Kevin Durant on the roster, this team has leaned on Sengun more than it ever has before. In the absence of starting point guard Fred VanVleet, and with new offensive expectations for the team as a whole, Sengun has delivered both as a scorer and as a facilitator.

While it might be controversial to say, this iteration of the team only works if Sengun is their best all-around performer on a nightly basis, and, so far, he has taken on that mantle wholeheartedly.

Through the team's first seven games, he is averaging 22.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 7.3 assists while shooting 42.9% from beyond the arc. This, on its own, is certainly a recipe for another appearance in the All-Star Game.

Yet, including his performance against Memphis, Sengun has now also amassed double-digit free-throw attempts in four of his games so far. Across the entirety of last season, he only accomplished this feat 13 times, meaning that the additional defensive attention that Durant demands is freeing Sengun up to earn mismatches in the paint, and he is taking full advantage of them.

Moreover, he is making his free throws at a rate of 74.2% this season: a number that would be by far his career-best if it holds out for the duration of the campaign.

The best centers in the league, in addition to being dominant scorers in the paint, are also capable of putting opposing teams in foul trouble simply by the threat they present in that area of the floor.

As it stands, Sengun is first among all centers in that category, and there is significant reason to believe that this could represent him taking the next step in his game.