Where does Alperen Sengun rank among all-time Rockets big men according to BPM?

The Houston Rockets have a rich legacy of big men. 

You know the names. They're woven into the fabric of Rockets fandom. Pick a time in Rockets history, and there's a decent chance that they were being led by one of the most talented centers in the NBA. 

The Rockets may have found their next great big man. Alperen Sengun has dazzled fans and rivals alike with an array of post moves and passes. He could be the Rockets' offensive engine of the future. 

We wondered how his 2023-24 season stacked up with other all-time Rockets big men in terms of Box Plus/Minus (BPM). That's our methodology here. We're taking Sengun's career-best mark in 2023-24, and comparing it to the best mark any of his predecessors hit in Rockets red. 

Why? Well, Sengun is a third year pro. The rest of the players on this list played full careers. We wouldn't want to hold their dying days in the NBA against them. 

(In case you missed it, Hakeem Olajuwon once played for the Raptors. It was a travesty, and we'd rather pretend it didn't happen). 

Here's how Sengun's 2023-24 season compares to the best BPMs that the best big men in Rockets history ever posted. 

6. Ralph Sampson 

Much to the dismay of older Rockets fans, Sampson's best BPM came during his 1983-84 rookie season. Even then, he only posted a pedestrian mark of 0.9. 

Yet, legend holds that Sampson is one of the best big men in NBA history. Make no mistake - as a prospect, Sampson was worthy of the legend. The NBA world had never seen a 7'4" behemoth with such a polished offensive skillset before. 

Unfortunately, injuries held back an immensely promising career. Sampson averaged 21.0 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game as a rookie, and posted comparable numbers as a sophomore. After that, his body would begin to fail him - and his production would decline rapidly.