NBA player poll: Rockets star Alperen Sengun deemed ‘most overrated’

During the 2025 and 2026 playoffs, Sengun’s true shooting came in at 49.1% and 51.9%, respectively. All of those percentages over the last two years are well below average for a center.

Granted, Sengun does still draw significant attention from opposing defenses, and he remains a good and willing passer. As a result, the 23-year-old remains a central hub of Houston’s offense, which has finished in the top half of the league the past two seasons.

Yet, there is definitely room for improvement heading into Sengun’s sixth NBA campaign this fall, particularly when it comes to finishing and defending. That may have played a role in the “most overrated” votes from some of his player peers.

Other Rockets who received votes in the 2026 player poll included:

• Amen Thompson got one vote (1.2%) for most overrated and finished 11th (2.6%, four votes) for best defensive player;
• Ime Udoka received two votes (1.4%) for most impressive coach and three votes (3.0%) for least impressive coach (excluding each player’s own coach);
• Jabari Smith Jr. got one vote for most underrated.

The Athletic’s complete player-poll results can be viewed here.

Collectively, Houston’s 2025-26 season admittedly fell short of the team’s internal expectations, which may have played a role in some of the pessimistic views across the league. The Rockets have finished 52-30 with a first-round playoff exit in each of the past two years.

More: ‘Frustrating and disappointing’: Rafael Stone on 2025-26 Rockets season

This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: NBA player poll: Rockets star Alperen Sengun deemed ‘most overrated’