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. 

5. Dwight Howard

Howard's tenure with the Rockets isn't always remembered fondly. It's unfortunate. In reality, he was a highly productive player during his time with the team. 

Individually, his best season (at least, according to BPM) came in 2013-14. Howard posted a 1.8 BPM during that season. It wouldn't be until the following season that he, along with James Harden, would lead the team to the Western Conference Finals. 

Somehow, it always felt like there was some tension between Howard and the organization. Some speculated that he wanted a larger role in the offense. With Harden's ascension to greatness running concurrently with Howard's decline, he was never going to get one. 

After 2015-16, Howard would leave the Rockets for the Hawks. His days as a star player were evidently done no matter what uniform he was wearing. Still, Howard may be a strange personality, but if we're being objective, we shouldn't dismiss what he accomplished in Space City. 

4. Moses Malone 

You can already see that Sengun has incredible accomplishments. During Moses Malone's entire time in Houston, he never posted a BPM as high as Sengun's from 2023-24. 

That's not to say he didn't come close. In 1981-82, Malone hit 4.5 in BPM. That's a gaudy number, and it's part of why Malone is rightfully remembered as one of the best Rockets in history. 

Disclaimer: BPM isn't everything. No single metric can capture a player's value. Malone is arguably the best offensive rebounder of all-time, and was a dominant two-way force. We're not saying Sengun has eclipsed him. 

During that same 1981-82 season, Malone averaged an unfathomable 31.1 points and 14.7 rebounds per game. He was named the league's MVP. 

Has Sengun beaten out a more dominant legend in terms of BPM? 

3. Alperen Sengun

Nope! 

The margin between Sengun and Malone is notably small. Last year, Sengun's BPM was 4.9. Spoiler alert: the margin between Sengun and the next big man on this list is even smaller. 

It's interesting. Every other big on this list was a dominant defensive presence. By contrast, Sengun is more revered for his offensive genius. 

If he continues on this trajectory, it will be a moot point. Impact is impact. Sengun's BPM of 4.9 is an exceptional mark for a third-year player. Assuming he builds on it, he may be undeniable as a franchise cornerstone no matter what his strengths and weaknesses are. 

Perhaps the Rockets will surround Sengun with plus defenders. On the other hand, he still has ample time to improve on that end of the floor. After all, he's already elite according to BPM, and he's just finished his third season in the NBA. 

2. Yao Ming

Remember that thin margin? 

In 2006-07, Ming posted a BPM of 5.0. For those who struggle with math, it's 0.1 more than Sengun managed last season. That's virtually nothing. 

Like Sampson, Ming's career was marred by injury. At least he was able to reach some high heights. During that 2006-07 season, Ming averaged 25.0 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. 

At 7'6", the league has known very few physical forces like Ming. That said, you may be noticing a trend here. It seems that players with so much surplus height have a tendency to struggle with durability. 

Either way, Ming's career is over. He's one of the best big men in Rockets history even if he flamed out prematurely. 

If you can't predict who's next on this list, you may want to re-think your Rockets fandom. 

1. Hakeem Olajuwon 

There are no thin margins here. In 1992-93, Olajuwon posted a BPM of 7.5. 

There are questions about whether Ming could survive in the modern era. He may have been too slow-footed. That wouldn't be a problem for Olajuwon. He would have been an archetypical switch big man who could guard across multiple positions. 

Offensively, he's a bit retro. If Olajuwon isn't the best low post scorer in NBA history, who is? Still, it's easy to imagine him expanding his range out to the three-point line and fitting into a modern context. 

Either way, Olajuwon played in the 80s and 90s. He was dominant during both decades. Many would consider him the best player of his era after Michael Jordan. 

According to BPM, he's easily the best center in Houston Rockets history.