HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- Though he ultimately wasn't selected, it meant a lot to Alperen Sengun to even be in the conversation to make his first All-Star team a season ago.
"I was excited (to be considered)," Sengun said Monday. "I didn't make it, but it's fine. I have a lot more chances to make it, so every year it's a new goal."
Sengun says making his first All-Star team is one of three goals he has set for himself this season. The other two are to improve his shooting accuracy from the free throw stripe and behind the three-point line.
"With him, obviously, the shooting ability is going to open up the floor for him and our team," Rockets coach Ime Udoka said.
Segun has made just one of his four three-point attempts through the Rockets first two preseason games after his three-point accuracy dipped to a 29.7 percent last season, down from 33.3 percent the season before, but he showed more of a willingness to take that shot, which is an important development.
"That's when he's able to take his game to another level is when he's able to hit those trail threes," Rockets forward Dillon Brooks said. "Big guys now run at him now when he's shooting threes, and (he's) able to drive, and create, score, get guys open."
The work Sengun put in at the free throw stripe over the summer with assistant coach Cam Hodges has been evident in two preseason contests. He has connected on 15-of-16 free throws after shooting just 69.3 percent from the line last season, a career-worst.
"It's just discipline," Sengun said. "Me and Cam were working all summer. If I was missing, I was running."
Sengun says the key for him at the line is to repeat his form on every attempt, and he also noticed a flaw in the way he was shooting last season.
"I was shooting in the wrong position last year," Sengin said. "My shoulder was back, all that stuff. Now, I'm trying to shoot the same shot every time."
The 16th pick of the 2021 draft is entering the final season of his rookie contract. Sengun would be a restricted free agent next summer if he and the Rockets cannot agree on an extension before the October 21 deadline.
