Alperen Sengun is already operating like one of Houston’s most valuable pieces, but the Rockets believe there’s still another level to reach if he can clean up his shooting mechanics.
The 25-year-old center is heading into his sixth NBA season after putting together a strong year in which he averaged 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists across 72 games. His all-around game keeps trending upward, yet one number still stands out: a career 69.9% free throw percentage.
That’s not disastrous for a big man, but it’s also the kind of area that can separate a very good player from a true star. Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid, after all, have both lived above 80% for most of their careers.
Houston’s offseason addition of Chip Engelland could matter here. The veteran assistant has built a reputation for helping players refine their shooting, and Sengun has already started working through some of the changes Engelland wants.
As reported by the Houston Chronicle's Varun Shankar, Sengun discussed what tweaks the new Rockets assistant coach suggested for his shooting mechanics.
“He doesn’t want me to lean back when I shoot the ball. I like to fade and in free throws, [Engelland] doesn’t want me to do that. He wants to… keep my balance in the front so I can push the ball up.”
That attention to detail matters because the free-throw line isn’t the only place where Sengun’s shot has drawn scrutiny. He has also taken criticism for his three-point work, with a career mark of 28.1% on 1.4 attempts per game.
The bigger picture around the league only raises the pressure on big men to expand their games. Centers are expected to do more now, and the old idea of a seven-footer being useful only as an interior presence and rebounder doesn’t hold nearly as much weight anymore.
Victor Wembanyama is a good example of that shift. Last season, he hit 34.9% from deep while averaging 1.9 made threes on 5.5 attempts per game, production that helped him finish third in MVP voting.
For Sengun, though, this feels less like a reinvention than a fine-tuning job. His scoring touch and passing ability already put him in rare company, and he finished last season in the top 30 in both points per game and assists per game. The talent is obvious; the next step is sharpening the parts of his game that keep him from fully cashing in on it.
That becomes even more important for Houston with Kevin Durant turning 38 years old this week. The Rockets will need someone in place to eventually carry the franchise forward when the 16-time All-Star moves on from Houston, and while Amen Thompson has shown promise, Sengun has built the stronger case as a player with two All-Star selections.
The Rockets have plenty to be excited about heading into the 2026-27 season. If Engelland can help Sengun become more reliable outside the paint, that could pay off right away and shape the franchise’s future at the same time.
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