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OKC Thunder NBA draft profile: Alperen Sengun – big man with huge upside

By Tamberlyn Richardson

Alperen Sengun (L) of Turkey in action against Andrey Vorontsevich (R) of Russia. (Photo by Sebnem Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Alperen Sengun (L) of Turkey in action against Andrey Vorontsevich (R) of Russia. (Photo by Sebnem Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder prospect series: Alperen Sengun of Turkey (23) in action during FIBA Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament . (Photo by Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) /

Alperen Sengun strengths and weaknesses

Strengths:

While the experts vary on Sengun’s seeding in the draft part of the reason why is access. Prospects who play overseas simply aren’t as visible or games as accessible as their counterparts who play in the NCAA or G-League Ignite.

Luka Doncic who in hindsight was the definitive top choice in his draft class also was hampered by similar problems. That, however, doesn’t mean franchises aren’t fully aware of European prospects although some clubs put greater emphasis on their international scouting.

With Sengun playing for his National team at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament the spotlight on him increased and subsequently his position on mock drafts improved.

At just 18 (he’ll turn 19 four days before the July 29th draft) he followed a very similar path as Doncic playing in Europe and winning MVP of his league despite facing grown men.

After Evan Mobley, Sengun is the next best big man in the 2021 class. He’s already demonstrated traits any NBA team can benefit from but the question is how high his ceiling is. Will he become another Enes Kanter or will he blossom into another Nikola Jokic?

That he possesses strengths in scoring, rebounding, and playmaking is why some envision the potential for him to grow into another Jokic.

As a rookie, he’ll offer a well-developed paint game that includes a wide range of moves including pump fakes, hook shots, and an impressive spin move. Watching him work in the paint highlights his high I.Q. as he’s capable of reacting and countering any defensive move drawing 6.2 free throws per game.

As an 81.1 percent free-throw shooter there is reason to believe he’ll eventually be able to extend his shot out to the perimeter. He’s also a solid rebounder on both ends grabbing 4.1 offensive boards and 5.3 defensive boards per game.

While his defense is limited based on his lack of lateral movement he brings energy and is a hard worker who garnered 1.7 blocks per game in spite of not being overly athletic or quick off his feet.

Weaknesses:

Sengun doesn’t stretch the court and has some mechanical issues to fix on his shot. Again, the fact he shoots over 80 percent from the charity stripe bodes well for extending his range eventually out to the perimeter.

The main area he’ll need to improve is on the defensive side of the hardwood. Oddly, the footwork he benefits from on the offensive end doesn’t translate defensively. Couple that with his lack of a quick first jump or athleticism and it could result in teams targeting him at the rim or attacking him in pick and roll.

Several highlights from his time with Besiktas showcase him coming from out of nowhere to block a shot. Sure, he’s smaller than some of the bigs he’ll face in the NBA but based on how quickly he dissects plays on the offensive end there should be optimism that he’ll put the same effort in to improve and grow within his drafting team’s defensive scheme.

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