Tyrese Haliburton Has Been Dethroned As NBA's 'Most Overrated Player'

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated May 6, 2026 10:40 AM ET

While the NFL may have dispensed with the annual player report cards, the NBA has not. And after a year of rather proudly declaring that Tyrese Haliburton is the most overrated player in the league, the NBA stars have found a new target of their ire.

The New York Times recently conducted a poll of anonymous NBA players and personnel seeking to answer a slew of questions. Among the questions was "Who is the league's most overrated player?"

Receiving 12.3-percent of the vote - more than Rudy Gobert (8.6), Trae Young (8.6) and Karl-Anthony Towns was a rather surprising choice: Houston Rockets big man Alperen Sengun.

NBA players voted on the most overrated player in the league

• Alperen Sengun: 12.3%
• Rudy Gobert: 8.6%
• Trae Young: 8.6%
• Karl-Anthony Towns: 7.4%
• Paolo Banchero: 4.9%
• Ja Morant: 4.9%
• Deni Avdija: 3.7%
• Scottie Barnes: 3.7%
• Luka Doncic: 3.7%
• Pascal… pic.twitter.com/jxqYeiiY30
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) May 6, 2026

Who is Alperen Sengun?

Sengun is a rising star center for the Houston Rockets and one of the most skilled young big men in the National Basketball Association. Born in Turkey, Sengun first gained attention playing professionally for Besiktas, where he won the Turkish League MVP at just 18 years old. He was selected in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft and has become a cornerstone of Houston’s rebuild thanks to his unique blend of post scoring, passing ability, footwork, and high basketball IQ.

This past season, Sengun seemingly emerged as the Rockets’ offensive hub and one of the league’s most productive centers. He averaged roughly 20+ points, around 9 rebounds, and over 6 assists per game, showcasing rare playmaking ability for his position. His growth as both a scorer and facilitator helped elevate Houston into a playoff team, and he became widely viewed as a potential All-Star–level player and franchise centerpiece.

May 1, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) talks with NBA referee Scott Foster (48) during a timeout against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter of game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images© Erik Williams-Imagn Images

While there wasn't a consistent written response as to why NBA players think Sengun is overrated, one note stuck out to the outlet: "He's crying every play. He's talented, but, dude, just play hard."

That being said, the numbers do a pretty good job of showing that Sengun is a pretty big piece of a pretty good team. Houston finished sixth in defensive rating this past season and wound up giving LeBron and the Los Angeles Lakers a run for their money in the first round of the playoffs.

Do you think Sengun is overrated?

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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