The Houston Rockets and center Alperen Şengün agreed to a five-year, $185 million contract extension Monday, minutes ahead of the 6 p.m. deadline for rookie-scale extensions, league sources told The Athletic.
Since the beginning of the summer, the Rockets and Şengün’s representatives have gone back and forth on deal structures and valuation. Rockets officials held out hope Monday that Şengün’s representatives would return to the negotiating table and accept that offer, which they did.
Şengün, 22, becomes the central figure of a Rockets team that has quickly turned the page from rebuilding to competitive. By locking Sengun and fellow 2021 first-round pick Jalen Green up for the foreseeable future, the Rockets sacrifice much of their conceptual cap space for next summer. Sengun’s previous cap hold was just $16.3 million, which would have given Houston’s front office financial flexibility for additional moves during the next offseason period. Now, that number will be replaced by Şengün’s first-year salary on this new deal.
Şengün, 22, has emerged as a central figure for a Rockets team that has quickly turned the page from rebuilding to competitive. Last season, Şengün averaged 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game, rapidly rising through the ranks and earning respect among peers and analysts alike. He flirted with an All-Star selection and finished third in Most Improved Player voting. Şengün missed the final 18 games of the 2023-24 regular season due to a right ankle sprain, but has since recovered and appeared in all four of Houston’s preseason games.
The fourth-year center took an aggressive rehab approach. Multiple Rockets coaches spent extended time with Şengün in Turkey during the summer, keeping him focused and in shape. A slimmed-down Şengün meshes well with coach Ime Udoka’s desire to increase Houston’s pace of play, especially if he commits to shooting 3s and spacing the floor. Şengün is an offensive fulcrum with advanced footwork in the low post, in addition to his playmaking, improving rim protection and defensive versatility.
The Rockets acquired Şengün with the 16th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft following a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder in which Houston surrendered two future first-round picks.
(Top photo: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
