Anonymous NBA Player Calls Out Alperen Sengun After 'Most Overrated' Label

Alperen Sengun (Image Credits: Imagn)

Anonymous NBA Player Calls Out Alperen Sengun After 'Most Overrated' Label

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Heena Singh | Last updated May 6, 2026 6:14 PM ET

The league talks. Even when it’s anonymous, the message usually leaks out. And this time, Alperen Sengun found himself right in the middle of it. The Houston Rockets’ big man has been rising fast, but not everyone is buying the hype.

That’s the tension around Sengun right now. He’s a two-time All-Star and a key offensive hub, but questions about efficiency and defense haven’t gone away. His scoring numbers have dipped over the past two seasons, and his defensive impact hasn’t met expectations.

According to “The Athletic’s” anonymous NBA player poll, Sengun received the most votes for “most overrated,” though the margin was tight, just 10 of 81 votes (12.3%). One anonymous player said:

“He’s crying every play. He’s talented, but, dude, just play hard.”

Anonymous NBA player on why Alperen Şengün was voted the league's most overrated player:

"He's crying every play. He's talented, but, dude, just play hard."

(Via @TheAthletic ) https://t.co/uuGUMgtdAM pic.twitter.com/ThiFkB0bv7
— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) May 6, 2026

The context matters. Only a portion of players answered that question, and past winners like Tyrese Haliburton went on to reach the Finals. Still, the feedback highlights areas Sengun must clean up, finishing, consistency, and defense if he wants to silence the noise heading into next season.

Alperen Sengun Delivers Numbers but Faces Defensive Scrutiny

The Houston Rockets walked into the series as favorites against the Los Angeles Lakers, especially with key absences tilting the matchup. Naturally, all eyes shifted to Alperen Sengun to control the paint.

Sengun delivered on paper, 20.3 points, 10.2 boards, and solid all-around numbers. However, defensively, he kept getting pulled into switches, often ending up on LeBron James. It wasn’t perfect, but he held up better than expected.

Alperen Sengun (Image Credits: Imagn)

Still, criticism came loud. Kendrick Perkins questioned his effort, pointing to lapses despite visible improvement. In reality, Sengun wasn’t elite, but he wasn’t the Rockets’ biggest issue either.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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