As the Houston Rockets traded for superstar Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns, shipping both Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks back seemed like a necessary sacrifice to make to bring in the go-to scorer that the team had been missing all of last season.
Yet, in doing so, they also compromised on the defensive identity they had worked so hard to cultivate, and, now, head coach Ime Udoka teased what role center Alperen Sengun's defense might play in allowing the team to maintain a similar level of staunchness on that side of the ball.
In the course of Turkiye's run to the EuroBasket semifinals, Sengun has played a massive role on both ends of the court, and his performance on both offense and defense have turned heads around the NBA, including in his own organization.
Alperen Sengun could become the defensive presence that the Rockets desperately need
As we near the conclusion of the much-anticipated EuroBasket tournament, Sengun has steadily proven himself to be one of the most dominant players in the competition, averaging 21.6 points, 10.9 rebounds and 7.1 assists through five group games and two elimination games.
Yet, he has also shown off his defense on the interior, facing off against opposing European big men, incluidng Nikola Jokic, and utilizing his physicality and agile footwork to limit their effectiveness on the interior. Yesterday, at a Rockets' community event, Udoka was asked about Sengun's performance, and he said: "[He's] had some really big end of the game plays defensively that won them games it’s great to see the work he put in be rewarded.”
Here Ime talks about what he discussed with Alperen Sengun and what he has seen from his during EuroBasket.
“Had some really big end of the game plays defensively that won them games it’s great to see the work he put in be rewarded.” pic.twitter.com/dlMwGqicPL
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) September 11, 2025
At 6'11", Sengun's big frame has been vital to Houston's interior defense for multiple seasons, but, in 2024-25, he cranked it a notch further. His defensive rating dropped from a career average of 115 to just 108, which put him fourth among bona-fide starting centers last season.
While, in the past, the team's defensive front has largely been reliant upon their agile and intense perimeter defenders, including Brooks and ascending star Amen Thompson, the loss of Brooks and the addition of Durant will put even more pressure on Sengun to perform in his role in order to keep the Rockets' defense at an elite level.
Therefore, while Sengun has proven to be a dominant offensive presence, and has even developed a perimeter shot in the EuroBasket tournament, becoming an elite defensive center as well is the next logical progression in his game. If he is able to do so, and if his performance in Europe serves as any indication, the Rockets will continue to be a terrifying team on that end of the court as they vie for a championship this season.