Alperen Sengun's future with the Houston Rockets could be decided by his performance in the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season, according to league insiders. This comes despite the All-Star center signing a five-year, $185 million contract extension, placing immense pressure on his next campaign.
The Rockets are looking to move past a disappointing first-round playoff exit. Their season ended with a 78-98 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on May 2, 2026, capping a recent run of two wins and three losses in their final five games.
ESPN analyst Dave McMenamin called this a massive year for the Turkish big man. "This is a big, big, big year for Alperen Sengun. Last year was not a step forward for him," McMenamin stated. He noted that Rockets general manager Rafael Stone recently visited Sengun in Turkey to work with him.
"But if this isn't a step forward season, I think there's going to be questions about whether Sengun has a long runway with the Rockets or not," McMenamin added. Sengun's statistical production last season was strong, averaging 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. Yet, the perception is he needs to elevate his game further.
His contract, which pays between $35 and $39 million annually through 2030, is considered a movable asset for a player of his talent. ESPN's Brian Windhorst highlighted this point. "Sengun has a good contract," Windhorst said. "Not every team would be interested in him because of his defensive challenges, but that's a guy, I think, has value."
This financial flexibility means Houston's front office has options if they decide a change is necessary. The team's core, built around veteran Kevin Durant, faces scrutiny after failing to advance past the first round despite a fifth-place finish in the Western Conference.
Despite the playoff flop, some analysts believe Houston has the pieces to compete for a championship. The Ringer's Michael Pina argued the Rockets are good enough to be the ninth different champion in nine years if they get the right breaks. He also pointed out the reasons for skepticism.
"Spacing matters. Durant is old. VanVleet shot 37.8 percent from the field before he suffered a major leg injury. All true," Pina wrote. Fred VanVleet missed the entire 2025-26 season with a torn ACL and is set to return to the starting lineup alongside Durant.
The Rockets added veteran guard Marcus Smart, who played a key role for the Lakers in their first-round series win. Pina described an "undeniably unfinished" feeling to the Rafael Stone era, suggesting the team is waiting for the perfect opportunity to push all their chips in.
The team's playoff series against the Lakers was a tight, back-and-forth affair. After losing Game 1 107-98 on April 19, Houston responded with a 101-94 loss in Game 2. They then dropped Game 3 108-112 at home before winning Game 4 115-96. A 99-93 road win in Game 5 evened the series, but the Lakers closed it out with a 98-78 victory in Game 7.
Sengun dismissed rumors of friction with Kevin Durant after the series loss. The Rockets' path forward now depends heavily on his development and the integration of a healthy VanVleet. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming schedule on our schedule page as the new season approaches.
