Rockets' Alperen Sengun proves that he understands the assignment

The Houston Rockets believe in Alperen Sengun. He's rewarding that belief by keeping his eyes on the prize - an NBA championship.

Their belief wasn't always evident. The Rockets notoriously benched Alperen Sengun in favor of (you might want to sit down) Bruno Fernando ahead of his sophomore year. Was that a tanking measure or a vote of unconfidence?

Either way, it's a moot point now. Sengun is entrenched as the starting center. The Rockets have committed to him. They even play him next to other big men. It's clear that the Turkish sensation is part of their long-term vision.

A recent quote from Sengun shows that his long-term vision is equally clear.

Sengun wants to win title with Rockets

"Our goal is the championship. Everyone wants that"

-Alperen Sengun

That's music to the ears of Rockets fans.

Sengun has been consistent in this messaging. The kid is a winner. That's part of why the Rockets decided to extend him.

That's never been as obvious as it was last season. After years of being (correctly) labelled as a defensive liability, Sengun made incredible strides on that end of the floor. Now, he's a reliable defender. If he can marry that reliability with his previous levels of offensive efficiency, Sengun should make an All-NBA appearance in 2025-26.

Will that be enough to lift the Rockets to a championship?

Rockets will have a tough road to title contention

It's excellent that Sengun is vying for a title. Here's the rub:

Everyone wants to win the NBA championship.

The Rockets will have no shortage of competition. The conversation starts with the Thunder. They won 68 games en route to the title last year, and they're bringing the same roster back. Defeating them will be no small task.

The Nuggets' improvements have been covered extensively in this space. Let's leave it here: Nikola Jokic's team got a lot better this summer. That's concerning. With good health, they can be as good as the Rockets.

The Clippers have upgraded their roster. The Lakers' Luka Doncic and LeBron James have had time to get acquainted. The NBA's Western Conference is a blood bath, and the Rockets will have to fight to advance to the Finals.

Yet, those teams should all fear the Rockets as well. They're the deepest team in the NBA. The Rockets improved on an already intimidating defensive roster. They'll be in the mix for the NBA championship for 2025-26:

Alperen Sengun is going to make sure of that.