Alperen Sengun emphasizes key element in his All-Star ambitions / News - Basketnews.com

Alperen Sengun attributes his resilience to tough coaching to his upbringing in a small town, where coaches were known for their intense and demanding style, drawing parallels to the coaching approach of Ime Udoka and player-coach Fred VanVleet.

Credit: USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con-SCANPIX Credit USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con-SCANPIX

This season, Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun has witnessed a tremendous surge in his performance, achieving career highs in points (21.9), rebounds (9.1), assists (4.9), and steals (1.2) per game.

Houston Rockets / Schedule

Philadelphia 76ers Houston Rockets124-115 New York Knicks Houston Rockets109-94 Houston Rockets Utah Jazz127-126 Houston Rockets Boston CelticsMon00:00 Houston Rockets Portland Trail BlazersThu01:00 Charlotte Hornets Houston RocketsSat00:00 Brooklyn Nets Houston Rockets01-2723:00

This individual improvement aligns with Houston's significant progress, as the 20-21 Rockets trail the Los Angeles Lakers by just one game for the Western Conference's final play-in spot.

"When I grew up, I was always a winning player," Sengun told Tim Bontemps of ESPN. "I got, like, a lot of championships. Like small [ones], but I got all of them. I was never a loser.

"I just want to win. I can do anything for the win. And all the coaching staff, everyone just wants to win."

Unsurprisingly, Sengun's impressive production has propelled him into the All-Star conversation in his third season.

"It just comes with playing hard and giving your best on the court," Sengun said. "Of course, it would be exciting to play with all the best stars that you used to watch when you were a kid.

"I was never a defensive player in my career," Sengun added. "I was just always scoring. But if you want to be an All-Star and the other s---, you gotta do everything."

Lastly, Sengun noted the influence of hard-nosed coaches and veteran players like Fred VanVleet or Dillon Brooks, expressing appreciation for their dedication to player development.

"Where I grew up is, like, all the hard coaches. I was in a small town and my coaches were always arguing and s---, cursing and s---. I grew up in that and then now Ime [Udoka] is like that. Fred is like that. He's a player, but he can be a coach on the court.

"They just want us to learn and get better. They don't want anything else."

Sengun recorded a career-high tying 37 points, along with 14 rebounds and 6 assists in a 127-126 overtime win against the Utah Jazz on Saturday.

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