Being named an NBA All-Star can be one of two things: It can be a reward for a stellar campaign, one where individual success has caught the attention of many. There are times, though, a legend whose best years may be behind him may be named an All-Star as a sign of respect.
Alperen Sengun certainly belongs to the former, but circumstances beyond his control may have lost him his spot in this year’s midseason festivities. Then again, the snub may very well be the best thing to happen to Sengun and the Houston Rockets.
The Indiana Pacers are by no means a contender this season, and yet they have pulled off solid wins against the defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder, the Golden State Warriors, and the Boston Celtics. Sengun made sure that Houston would not be added to that list, doing a little bit of everything to fight off the stingy Pacers.
What made what was arguably Sengun’s best performance this season so far even more remarkable was that he did this without Kevin Durant. Durant’s absence would certainly raise Sengun’s usage, but with the defense now more focused on him, Sengun remained relentless and he pretty much willed the Rockets to victory.
Although this season isn’t Sengun’s best numbers-wise, it nonetheless showed he has sustained his ability to do whatever is needed of him. With Durant in the fold, the scoring load is all the more balanced, while the continued emergence of Amen Thompson gives Houston another swiss knife to move around the chessboard. The rest of the team has been a great fit for him because they are either shooters who knock down shots when given opportunities (e.g., Reed Sheppard, Tari Eason, and Aaron Holiday) or ones who play their role to a tee (e.g., Steven Adams, Josh Okogie, and Jabari Smith Jr.).
It’s clear that Sengun is the cornerstone of this team, even with Durant leading the way. That’s not a knock on Durant, who is a generational force himself, but it’s a practical notion given that Durant is approaching 40 and Sengun will turn 24 in July. They’ll continue to work together to build on their respective legacies while hopefully taking the Rockets to greater heights, and at 31-17 and fourth place in the Western Conference, there’s a chance they can make a deep postseason run into June.
That being said, we can look back at this Alperen Sengun All-Star snub later on as a flashpoint or even a blip in what could be a great campaign. After all, Sengun has always had bigger goals in mind and those usually come to fruition when the festivities die down and the tough basketball games have to be played. And judging by his recent play, Sengun is ready to answer the call.
