Third-year Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun was enjoying a breakout pro season in 2023-24. The 6’11” big man, 21, was playing at a fringe All-Star level, albeit on a club that seemed doomed for another trip to the NBA lottery, and one that would fall short of even a play-in tournament berth. Unfortunately, it seems like his fun has come to an end, at least for now.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports that Sengun severely sprained his right ankle and incurred a right knee bone bruise during a 112-104 win against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. He scored 14 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field, pulled down six rebounds, dished out two dimes and swiped two steals in 29:23. He was carted off the floor in a wheelchair during the contest’s final minute. This effectively puts the nail in the coffin for the team, during new head coach Ime Udoka’s first season aboard.
ESPN Sources: Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun has escaped major injury on his lower right leg, suffering a severely sprained ankle and a bone bruise on his knee. Sengun’s been one of breakout stars in the league this year, averaging 21 points, nine rebounds, five assists. pic.twitter.com/fGlKYyufo7
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 11, 2024
The club was 29-35 and in 11th place in a competitive Western Conference at the time of his injury. Given that Sengun is the Rockets’ top player and will be tough to replace, even by committee, with Houston’s extant personnel in the frontcourt, the team seems doomed to fall short of its first postseason action since James Harden forced his way out of town. The Rockets have since won their next game, but even at 30-35 they remain four games behind the 34-31 Golden State Warriors in the hunt for the West’s tenth seed.
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
Bench Houston big men Jock Landale, Boban Marjonovic and Jeff Green will no doubt do their darnedest to compensate for his absence piecemeal. But none of them can replicate his offensive versatility. Shams Charania of Stadium shed a bit more light on the extent of the injury:
“Sources tell me Alperen Sengun has suffered a Grade 3 right ankle sprain, he will miss several weeks… tremendous sigh of relief, but this likely ends his regular season.”
NBA Insider @ShamsCharania on the Rockets young superstar. pic.twitter.com/CBYT8UiWiD
— Stadium (@Stadium) March 12, 2024
Charania notes in the video that Sengun has incurred a Grade 3 ankle sprain. He’ll be on the shelf for multiple weeks. Given that it’s already mid-March, that ultimately means he’s in all likelihood done for the year. Houston’s last game is slated for April 14th.
Meanwhile, The Athletic’s Kelly Iko reveals that Houston medical personnel don’t think of the bone bruise as a similarly long-term impediment. It may recover faster. So at least there’s that, Rockets fans.
The timing and severity of Sengun’s ankle injury is why HOU is likely to be without him for the remainder of the season.
Sengun’s bone bruise isn’t nearly as serious and will take a shorter amount of time to heal, sources say. https://t.co/AYp7jbVMjd
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) March 12, 2024
Sengun has emerged as an impressively versatile big man, with great rebounding sensibilities, yes, but also a versatile scoring and passing game. On the year, Sengun boasts impressive averages of 21.1 points, 9.3 boards, an astounding five assists. He’s in line for a rookie scale contract extension this offseason. Should he and the Rockets not come to terms, he’ll be a hot commodity as a restricted free agent in the summer of 2025.
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