The Houston Rockets took arguably a larger step than any other team in the NBA this season. After becoming regular-season juggernauts that flamed out early in the playoffs, Houston needed to upgrade its roster to take the next step in its evolution as a title contender. They did precisely that thanks to their slew of savvy moves, headlined by Kevin Durant.
Despite these moves, however, the Rockets' most important player remains Alperen Şengün, and Houston will only go as far as their Turkish superstar takes them.
Despite the KD Addition, Alperen Sengun Will Determine How Far the Rockets Go
The biggest question mark surrounding Houston next season is its half-court offense. They will once again be an elite defensive team and a dangerous transition team. Yet, whether or not the Rockets can score enough in the half-court against the likes of the Oklahoma City Thunder will dictate whether they can make a deep postseason run.
The three best offensive players on the team are Fred VanVleet, Kevin Durant, and Şengün. Durant and VanVleet are known commodities at this stage in their careers. KD is still one of the best shot-makers in the world, and VanVleet is a do-it-all point guard who likes to control the tempo. Head coach Ime Udoka likely has a good idea of what he is getting out of those two veterans.
Şengün, however, offers more of an upside and untapped potential. The 23-year-old can be the offensive hub for this team, thanks to his elite passing and playmaking chops. His finishing around the rim took a step back last season, and his shooting remains a question mark. Yet, he remains a dominant post player, rebounder, and scorer. If he can combine the defensive improvement from last season with the scoring touch Rockets fans know he has in his arsenal, Şengün can take a big step towards an All-NBA caliber season.
Houston has plenty of high-upside young players, such as Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr., in addition to Şengün. For the immediate future, however, neither of them is as important as the Turkish big man. Şengün needs to be the best player on this team next season for the Rockets to have a shot at the title. So far, in his career, he has shown enough flashes to demonstrate he is capable of reaching those levels; now he needs to put it together for a whole season and the playoffs.