Can Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson Thrive Together? The Rockets’ Young Duo Faces a Spacing Test - and a Path Forward
Let’s call it what it is - pairing Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson doesn’t scream “modern NBA synergy.” Two non-shooters sharing the floor in today’s league is usually a recipe for a clogged paint and a cramped offense. At first glance, it’s hard to imagine how these two can coexist without stepping on each other’s toes - literally and figuratively.
But dig a little deeper, and there’s more to this pairing than meets the eye.
The Fit Is Clunky - But Not Hopeless
Yes, the spacing gets tight. Think post-COVID beach crowds - everyone’s bumping into each other, and no one’s got room to breathe.
Sengun and Thompson both struggle from beyond the arc, and in the modern NBA, that’s a red flag. But here’s the thing: Sengun might be able to shoot well enough in time to make this work.
Let’s look at the numbers. As a sophomore, Sengun hit 33.3% of his threes - albeit on just 0.7 attempts per game.
This season, he’s taking more (2.1 per game) but connecting at a lower clip (30.1%). That’s not ideal, but it’s not a lost cause either.
He’s shown enough flashes to suggest that a respectable outside shot isn’t out of reach.
That’s the difference-maker. Thompson, shooting just 19.3% from deep, has a much steeper hill to climb.
At this point, expecting a reliable three-ball from him feels more like wishful thinking than a realistic development curve. So if one of them is going to stretch the floor, it’s going to have to be Sengun.
A Vision for the Future - If Sengun’s Shot Comes Around
Let’s imagine a version of this Rockets team where Sengun is knocking down 35% of his threes on three attempts per game. Suddenly, the offense opens up.
Sengun can initiate from the perimeter, where he’s capable of beating opposing bigs off the dribble. If a team tries to switch a guard onto him, he can punish them with his strength and footwork inside - as long as the opposing center is actually guarding Thompson.
That’s where things got tricky against San Antonio.
In the second half, the Spurs threw a wrinkle at the Rockets. Stephon Castle took on Sengun, while Victor Wembanyama was technically assigned to Thompson - but let’s be real, Wemby wasn’t guarding him. He sagged way off, daring Thompson to shoot, and effectively mucked up the Rockets’ spacing.
This is where Sengun’s shooting matters. If defenses respected his jumper, he could pull Castle away from the paint.
That would either give Sengun a mismatch in isolation or clear the lane for Thompson to attack Wembanyama one-on-one. But if Sengun’s shot isn’t a threat, defenders can cheat off and gum up the works.
So, is this a problem now? Yes. But it’s not a dead end.
What Can Ime Udoka Do Right Now?
Head coach Ime Udoka has some tools at his disposal to make this pairing work in the short term - even before Sengun becomes a reliable shooter.
Let’s start with the inverted pick-and-roll. We saw Sengun run it with KJ Martin during the Silas era, and it worked like a charm.
There’s no reason it can’t work with Thompson, who brings even more athleticism and vertical pop as a roller. Let Sengun handle the ball up top, let Thompson set the screen and dive - it’s a wrinkle that could help shift the geometry of the floor.
Thompson, in general, should be doing more screening, rolling, and cutting. He’s a blur in space and a lob threat every time he dives to the rim.
When he’s off the ball, he needs to stay active. And when he is on the ball, Sengun should be spacing out as much as possible - even if defenders don’t fully respect his shot, they’re unlikely to leave him completely unguarded.
And here’s the kicker: the numbers say this duo can work. According to Databallr, Sengun and Thompson are a +7.5 in 1,018 minutes together this season.
That’s not just passable - that’s productive. The spacing issues are real, but they’re more situational than systemic.
They can share the floor. The key is making sure the offense is structured to support them.
The Bottom Line
Sengun’s development as a shooter is the long-term swing factor. If he becomes a consistent threat from deep, the Rockets can unlock a version of their offense that’s both modern and uniquely built around their young core’s strengths.
But even before that happens, there are ways to make it work. Udoka has the pieces to get creative - inverted actions, off-ball movement, and smart spacing can help mask the shooting limitations and highlight what Sengun and Thompson can do: pass, cut, finish, and defend.
It’s not a perfect fit. But it’s not broken either.
And if Sengun finds his stroke? Watch out.