Charles Barkley has heaped reward on the high-flying Houston Rockets, and singled out one man specifically driving their success this season.
Charles Barkley: Alperen Sengun is a “Poor Man’s Kevin McHale”
The Houston Rockets are hovering to the higher echelons of the Western Convention this season.
Though the Sacramento Kings inflicted their first defeat in six video games to convey an finish to a panoramic successful streak, the Rockets remaining firmly glued to second spot; that is definitely no imply feat given how stacked the highest half of the convention is.
Whereas a few of the league’s bigger franchises are leaning closely on their previous guard to maintain them afloat, Houston’s youthful rebuild has greater than paid dividends as a core of budding younger gamers proceed to boost them into playoff competition.
On the coronary heart of every thing constructive popping out of Houston proper now could be Alperen Sengun, whose versatility as a quasi large man-fleet footed middle continues to earn him widespread plaudits.
Likened to the way in which MVP favourite Nikola Jokic operates, Sengun has been each a artistic lynchpin for his teammates in addition to a points-scorer himself.
His contribution is, after all, greatest mirrored by stable all-round stats for a middle; 19.3 factors, 10.4 rebounds, 5 assists and a discipline purpose share of 49 all mix for what’s projected to be a career-best season.
With the Rockets driving a 27-13 file, his position because the fulcrum of the crew might be made all of the extra essential as they head in direction of a possible first playoff berth since 2019/20.
The remainder of the league are starting to worry them, and the media are popping out in full drive to sing their praises – not least TNT’s Charles Barkley, who gave Houston their flowers on a current Inside The NBA section.
“[The Rockets] are actually ballin’ proper now. Ime Udoka is doing a wonderful job,” Barkley mentioned.
“The attention-grabbing query has obtained to be Alperen Sengun. Is he gonna be an All-Star or not? I’d put him on the All-Star crew as a result of we obtained to reward successful. And he’s one of the best participant on the crew with the second-best file within the West.
“Man, this man obtained some ft work, like Shaq would say. He’s a poor man’s Kevin McHale.”
“[The Rockets] are actually ballin’ proper now” 💪
Chuck offers Houston and Şengün their flowers 💐 pic.twitter.com/r0e3wo2elR
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 17, 2025
After a breakout season final yr, Sengun might be hoping Barkley is appropriate in his endorsement and might be eyeing a spot on the model new All-Star event come February.
There was no signal of Sengun within the newest All Star fan voting returns, nevertheless.
