Alperen Sengun's All-Star Snub a Blessing in Disguise for Rockets

Missed All-Star selection gives young star time to heal ahead of crucial stretch run

Feb. 3, 2026 at 10:31pm

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Alperen Sengun, the Houston Rockets' rising star, was left off the NBA All-Star roster this season. However, this snub may actually benefit the Rockets in the long run, as it allows Sengun to rest and recover from a nagging ankle injury that has hampered his play for the past month. The 23-year-old has shown flashes of brilliance, including a 39-point outburst in his first game back, but has struggled with consistency due to the injury. The Rockets are hoping the All-Star break will allow Sengun to fully heal and come back refreshed and motivated, ready to lead the team down the stretch as they push for the playoffs.

Why it matters

Sengun's health and production are crucial to the Rockets' success this season. As a young, rising star, he is expected to be a driving force for the team, especially alongside veteran Kevin Durant. The Rockets have a backloaded schedule with many back-to-back games, making it even more important that Sengun is fully healthy and rested to handle the heavy workload.

The details

Sengun has been dealing with an ankle injury for the past month, which has impacted his play. He missed a week in early January due to the injury, but rushed back too soon, leading to further setbacks. The numbers show that Sengun performs significantly better with more rest, with his offensive rating jumping from 112 on no rest to 126 with at least three days between games. His usage rate has also increased each month as the Rockets have leaned on him more, especially with other key players like Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams missing time due to injuries.

  • Sengun missed a week in early January with the ankle injury.
  • Sengun returned to action after Houston lost three of four games without him.
  • It took another two weeks before Sengun said he finally felt 100% again, highlighted by his 15-for-17 shooting performance against Memphis.
  • Two nights later, Sengun tweaked his ankle again, leading to poor shooting performances in the following games.
  • Sengun's 39-point outburst against Indiana on Monday was an exception, as he has had more games scoring fewer than 15 points than he has scoring more than 28.

The players

Alperen Sengun

A 23-year-old rising star for the Houston Rockets who was left off the NBA All-Star roster this season.

Kevin Durant

A veteran NBA star who has provided consistent 30-point performances for the Rockets, and who Sengun needs to play alongside in order for the team to succeed this season.

Fred VanVleet

A key player for the Rockets who has missed time due to injury, putting more pressure on Sengun to perform.

Steven Adams

Another key Rockets player who has missed time due to injury, further increasing the burden on Sengun.

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What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.