In his first two NBA seasons, Alperen Sengun’s occasional defensive lapses were a frequent discussion topic surrounding the Houston Rockets. Under former head coach Stephen Silas, the big man drafted in the 2021 first round was often benched late in games.
That hasn’t been the case under new head coach Ime Udoka. One reason, according to Sengun, is he embraces being called out in the film room, which can correct issues prior to a game.
“Udoka won’t hesitate to curse Sengun out in a film session or pull him from a game to intone defensive habits,” writes Michael Pina of The Ringer. “It’s a treatment Sengun craves.”
“I love tough coaches,” Sengun said, smiling, according to Pina’s latest feature story in The Ringer. “Sometimes I lose my (concentration). I feel like when I’m working with coaches (who get) mad, I think that makes me wake up. It’s good for me.”
“When I signed on, he said he wants to be coached hard, like he was in Europe,” Udoka said with a chuckle, according to Pina. “And so I will oblige that and do what he’s asking.”
Through nine games, Sengun leads the Rockets in average points (19.4) and rebounds (8.2) per game. The third-year center is a huge reason Houston (6-3) has overachieved all expectations, including a six-game winning streak, for the 2023-24 season to date.
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I profiled Alperen Sengun, a 21-year-old who’s already the best player on the NBA’s most surprising team, with a rare skill-set that draws frequent comparisons to the best player alive.
“Jokic is like monster level. I want to get to that level.”https://t.co/FA5ZNAcf7c
— Michael Pina (@MichaelVPina) November 17, 2023