Alperen Sengun’s injury is definitely a big downer for Houston Rockets fans, especially with how the big man has taken a leap in his game. But for head coach Ime Udoka, there’s one benefit that came out of this predicament.
After besting Victor Wembanyama recently in a game that saw the Rockets’ big man score 45 points, Sengun suffered a leg injury in Houston’s 112-104 win over the Sacramento Kings. This incident occurred towards the game’s conclusion, which saw the 21-year old center contest Domantas Sabonis’ drive to the rim.
The result is an awkward landing for Sengun, which led to him injuring his leg. Shortly after, the Rockets star was seen leaving the court in a wheelchair.
Fortunately, tests conducted on Sengun showed that he escaped a major injury on his right leg. Instead of a broken leg, the rising star only suffered a severely sprained ankle and a bone bruise on his knee.
Throughout the season, Sengun has improved his game by averaging 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. With his absence from the lineup, Houston’s chances of even making the Play-In Tournament just got smaller.
Houston Rockets Head Coach Ime Udoka Reveals 1 Benefit of Alperen Sengun Due to Injury
Rockets head coach Ime Udoka spoke to reporters recently and shared his thoughts on Sengun’s absence. He reveals one benefit in a video posted by ClutchFans on X:
With Sengun off the court, other players on the team are expected to step up on both ends of the court. Jock Landale and Boban Marjanovic are expected to fill up the center spot, while young pieces like Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson will need to to improve to cover Turkish star’s absence.
It’s not yet known when Sengun will return to action after his leg injury. In any case, his absence from Houston’s lineup has just shown how valuable he is to the team and how far his improvement has gone after two years in the NBA.
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