Houston Rockets: What’s Alperen Sengun ceiling?

Houston Rockets: Alperen Sengun’s passing

Just about every night Alperen Sengun attempts a jaw-dropping pass. Sometimes it's a turnover, sometimes it doesn't count, but sometimes it leads to a bucket. 

Sengun’s assist numbers won’t have him confused with LaMelo Ball. However, 4.1 assists per 36 minutes is an impressive total, especially given context. The Rockets have the sixth-worst team field goal percentage. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but for someone to get an assist someone else needs to hit a shot. 

Sengun, on a better shooting team, would have more assists by virtue of having better teammates. The other important piece of context is his position. This season, Sengun has split time between power forward and center. His per 36 minutes assist total of 4.1 ranks 79th in the NBA, but it is 10th among power forwards and centers. 

The nine power forwards and centers ahead of him are Draymond Green, Nikola Jokic, Thaddeus Young, Giannis Antekounmpo, Kevin Durant, Julius Randle, Josh Hart, Nikola Vucevic, and Nemanja Bjelica. Positionally, Sengun is already an elite passer. 

Sengun’s assist numbers look good, but he hasn’t been perfect. He has 30 turnovers to 29 assists this season. However, only 13 of his turnovers have come from bad passes. The next step for Sengun is to be able to have an offense run through him. If the early returns are any indication, he shouldn’t have any problem dishing dimes.