2021 NBA Draft Profile

Alperen

Sengun

Round 116
Drafted By:Oklahoma City Thunder
Position
C
Height/Weight
6-9 / 240 lbs
School/Club
Besiktas (Turkey)
Country
Turkey
Status
International
Birthday
07/25/2002
Draft 2021

DRAFT TRADE:

Acquired by Rockets in trade with Thunder.
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About Alperen Sengun

• Alperen Sengun is a skilled big man whose improved conditioning helped him emerge as one of the most productive, efficient teenagers in recent European basketball history. A productive player at the junior level who turned in a revealing performance playing up a year at the 2018 FIBA U17 World Championship averaging 15.9 points and 12.3 rebounds per game, Sengun made his professional debut in the Turkish 2nd Division the following year.  Averaging 10.8 points and 6.8 points per game that season, Sengun built significant momentum before moving to Bandirma BIK in the 1st Division the following season. Averaging 6.3 points per game in a reserve role as a 17-year-old, Sengun subsequently signed with Besiktas ahead of the 2020-21 season. Turning a corner in his development this year, the wide-bodied center made his National Team debut, averaged 19 points and 8.7 rebounds per game between the Turkish 1st Division and FIBA Europe Cup, and was earned BSL Most Valuable Player as he lead Besikats to a spot in the semifinals.

• Listed at 6’9 with an improved 242-pound frame to go along with average length, Sengun is a physical center who may not be especially explosive, but has shown improved mobility as he’s lost weight.

• Leading the Turkish 1st Division in per-minute scoring and offensive efficiency, Sengun filled a huge role last season. Scoring at a strong rate in the post, showing timing and instincts off the ball, throwing in shots with deft touch in close, and making free throws with good consistency, the 18-year old big man was prolific in his first year in a feature role at the professional level. Showing the ability to handle the ball a bit, some flashes of creativity as a passer, and some budding potential as jump shooter, his talent and intrigue were apparent.  As productive as he was, he still has clear room to evolve.

• Displaying impressive anticipation on the defensive end, Sengun is not overly quick or long, but found ways to make some disruptive plays last season anyways.


Advanced Stats 

• A confident, crafty interior scorer, Sengun carried Besiktas for stretches last season. An instinctive player adept at finding angles inside and converting with soft touch, he proved effective attacking one-on-one in the post, but his energy on the glass, hands as a roll man, and timing as a cutter were key to his productivity as well. Serving as a facilitator and sliding out to the perimeter at times, Sengun showed some upside as a decision-maker and shooter as he turned in one of the more efficient seasons in Turkish League history despite experimenting with his range late in the year.

• An intuitive post threat able to score with touch and work back to counters to his counters, Sengun averaged 1.01 points per Post Up possession [81st percentile] despite facing regular double teams. Making an effort to establish good position, tossing in shots consistently with both hands, and embracing contact inside, he operates decisively inside but does a nice job using fakes and taking what the defense gives him in close.

• Earning some catch and finish opportunities around the rim with his activity level on the glass and hands snagging bullet passes rolling to the rim, Sengun averaged 1.58 points per shot around the rim in the half court [97th percentile]. He is not going to catch lobs prolifically, but can power up to finish them in space and has great touch as a finisher to score overs defenders. Making quick reads passing the ball on short rolls as well, he flashes unique polish as an outlet in the pick and roll.

• Attempting more jump shots as the year went on, Sengun averaged 0.63 points per jump shot in the half court [12 percentile]. He is a very good free throw shooter with the coordination to handle the ball some on the perimeter, but still has room to improve as a three-point threat.


Defensive Analysis

• An instinctive defender who lacks a degree of quickness in space and size for a center, Sengun nonetheless showed some ability to get in the passing lanes and block shots thanks to his timing and instincts. Faring better in some matchups on the block than others, he has room to grow as a defender.

 

— Profile by Synergy Sports