Rockets Agree To Five-Year Extension With Alperen Sengun

The Rockets are all in on Alperen Sengun. That became evident after Houston reached a five-year, $185 million rookie scale extension with the talented big man, per NBA insider Bobby Marks of ESPN.

The deal, which includes a player option for the fifth year, locks up one of the league’s most intriguing young centers — and makes it clear that Houston sees Sengun as a central figure in their future plans.

Sengun, just 22, had a breakout season in 2023-24. He put up career-high numbers across the board — 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.2 steals per game — while shooting nearly 54% from the field. He was a finalist for Most Improved Player, finishing third in the voting, and though injuries cut his season short, his play spoke volumes.

He’s a big man who can do a little bit of everything, whether it’s scoring in the paint, facilitating the offense, or even locking down opponents on defense.

There was some question about whether the Rockets would move now or wait, considering they could have held onto some cap flexibility for 2025. With Sengun’s cap hold at $16.3 million, delaying a new deal would’ve given them more room to maneuver.

But Sengun made it clear he wanted to get a deal done, and Houston wasn’t going to risk letting their rising star’s price tag increase any further with another big season on the horizon.

With Sengun locked in alongside Jalen Green — who just signed a three-year, $105.3 million extension — the Rockets are showing they’re committed to building around their young core. It also suggests Houston’s front office isn’t concerned about playing under the cap next summer.

Instead, they’re focused on developing a roster built to grow together, with Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore, and Reed Sheppard all under contract through at least 2027.

In a span of 24 hours, Sengun became the latest NBA player to secure a rookie scale extension, joining the likes of Jalen Johnson, Jalen Suggs, and his own teammate, Green. The message from Houston is loud and clear — they believe Sengun is a cornerstone, and they’re paying him like one.