By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Following Friday’s team practice, Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun opened up about his development ahead of the 2026–27 NBA Regular Season, sharing a desire to expand his offensive versatility beyond the paint.
Known as one of Europe’s finest modern bigs, the Turkish national team star is actively working to transform his perimeter shooting. When asked if he could hit a 40% ceiling from beyond the arc this season, Sengun offered a balanced smile. “We’ll see,” he answered, acknowledging both the high expectations and the mountain of work ahead.
For a player with a sub-30% career three-point average, unlocking this dimension requires a complete shift in mindset.
“Probably corner threes,” noted Sengun. “That’s what coach and others want too, and I want to get better. Just to space out and give some space to my teammates.”
To achieve this, the 24-year-old center is heavily focusing on the psychological elements, working closely with shooting coach Chip Engelland.
“Just feeling confident, getting a bunch of reps, and not thinking about it,” he admitted. “I have said it before, it’s all mental for me. I feel good when I shoot it, but in the game, I kind of feel like I’m rushing a little more. But I’m working on that right now.”
“He’s amazing. He’s a genius,” he raved about the partnership with Engelland. “You can already see it. Putting little details in a couple of the stuff that I need to get improved and Chip is really good at it. Watching a lot of clips, telling me all the details, taking videos.”
The Rockets will travel to Macao for two preseason games against the Dallas Mavericks before hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder. They tip off their Regular Season at the Toyota Center against Dallas on October 21.
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