Watch: Rockets center needs wheelchair after scary fall
Alperen Sengun’s tremendous third season with the Houston Rockets may have ended on a scary play Sunday night.
Late in the team's 112-104 win over the Sacramento Kings, Sengun took an awkward fall after running back to foul Donatas Sabonis. Sengun crashed to the ground, immediately clutching his right leg.
The 21-year-old center left the court in a wheelchair after what appeared to be a severe ankle injury. On-court mics captured Sengun saying, “My ankle is f—-ed up, bro.”
It looks like a bad injury that could potentially end what was a breakout season for Sengun in 2023-24. He’s averaging 21.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game – stellar passing numbers for a center. Some of the third-year big man’s most impressive games have come this week.
Tuesday, Sengun recorded a career-high 45 points against the San Antonio Spurs and rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama.
He followed that up with a triple-double against the L.A. Clippers on Wednesday, scoring 23 points, grabbing 19 rebounds and dishing a career-high 14 assists.
Sengun has become the focal point of head coach Ime Udoka’s offense, even after the Rockets tried to sign Brook Lopez to supplant him this summer.
The Rockets weren’t heading to the playoffs, but it’s still disappointing that the team could lose Sengun with a month to go. Next year, they’ll have Steven Adams to fill in or play alongside him, as Sengun’s offensive skills make it feasible for him to operate at the four alongside a more defensively-oriented center.
Until then, Houston will probably have to wait for 2024-25. And good MRI results.
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