Despite his 2023-24 season ending early due to a March 10 ankle injury, third-year center Alperen Sengun showed enough during the preceding 63 games with the Houston Rockets to be one of three finalists for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award.
On a per-game average basis, the 21-year-old Turkish big man led the Rockets in scoring (21.1 points) and rebounds (9.3) while shooting 53.7%, a team-high among rotation players.
That was enough for Sengun to earn All-Star consideration earlier this year, and it makes him a finalists for one of the league’s prestigious annual awards. Other finalists are Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey and Chicago Bulls guard Coby White.
The NBA’s latest criteria calls for players to participate in at least 65 games to be eligible for its awards. However, ESPN’s Kevin Pelton recently noted a potential exception to that rule:
Sengun will only be eligible if an independent doctor rules he will be unable to play through May 31 due to the injury that ended his regular season two games shy of the 65-game minimum.
It appears that was the case. The winners of the awards will be announced at a later date during the league’s 2024 playoffs.
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Complete list of 2023-24 awards finalists pic.twitter.com/ao7xOdZpwg
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 21, 2024