The 2026-27 NBA season is almost upon us. For the Houston Rockets, it will begin on October 21st versus the Dallas Mavericks in Houston. That means there’s still time for some completely unbiased predictions for the season ahead. Like maybe just for instance that the team will have a brand new first-time All-NBA player.
The Rockets and All-NBA
The Houston Rockets had an All-NBA player last season, though decidedly not a first-time one. Kevin Durant made his 12th All-NBA team in 2026 (his sixth All-NBA second team to go with six All-NBA first teams).
He did so with averages of 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game on 53.0% from the field, 41.3% from three, and 87.4% from the free-throw line. In short, at age 37, it was just another typical Durant season.
It’s likely that 2026-27 will be another at age 38 as well, even with Durant’s shaky top-ten status. Immediately, that makes it difficult for another Rockets player to get a look in. After all, for the team to warrant two All-NBA selections, the Rockets would be in elite company.
But two-time All-Star Alperen Sengun has a legitimate shot.
The 2026-27 First-Time All-NBA Star
The case for Sengun’s All-NBA bid at this point comes down to two components. One is that Sengun’s improvement in 2025-26 flew nose-to-the-ground under the radar. The other is that it did so because the team had no NBA-level point guards, a shortcoming that, in 2026-27, will hopefully be addressed.
In 2025-26, Sengun averaged 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks on 51.9% from the field, 30.5% from three, and 69.1% from the free-throw line. He only made the All-Star game by the skin of his teeth, selected as an injury replacement.
Sengun’s numbers last season initially give the impression of having plateaued since 2023-24. That season, he averaged 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.7 blocks on 53.7% from the field, 29.7% from three, and 69.3% from the free-throw line. But there are two details that shouldn’t be ignored.
First of all, Sengun has improved significantly as a defender in that time, requiring increased focus and energy on that end of the floor. Secondly, Sengun was able to replicate almost identical numbers despite playing as his own point guard.
Sengun led the Rockets in assists in 2025-26 and initiated a startling amount of the team’s offense as a post player, despite having no competent post-entry passers on the roster. It’s no wonder then that the primary criticism against Sengun was his inefficiency. Sengun was tasked with making something out of nothing, possession after possession after possession.
Why Sengun Has a Shot
In 2026-27, Sengun should finally start getting some easier baskets. That’s thanks to the return of starting point guard Fred VanVleet. VanVleet’s debut in preseason showcased just how much easier the point guard can make life for the Turkish big man. VanVleet isn’t even the only member of a promising 2026-27 Rockets guard rotation.
Durant is also a substantial part of this equation. Whereas in seasons before Durant’s arrival, opponents could sell out to stymie the Sengun-VanVleet pick-and-roll, that will no longer be the case in 2026-27. The last thing opponents will want now is to send help to stop Sengun’s roll, only to leave the Slim Reaper wide open in the corner.
It is undeniable that Sengun will have the easiest time scoring of his career this season. VanVleet shouldn’t even really take many touches away from Sengun either, since most of the guard’s shots will come from doubles and overplays on other players. The shots VanVleet will take away are the bad shots that tanked Sengun’s efficiency.
With what may be the first functional offense in the Ime Udoka Houston Rockets era, the team should also perform much better overall. That translates to a better record, and that translates to extra All-NBA votes for Rockets players.
The Last Word
Nothing is a given, and Sengun will face plenty of stiff competition, even with the new positionless voting. He and the whole Rockets roster will have to avoid serious injury, and most of all, Sengun has to actually make use of the enormous opportunity 2026-27 should provide. The saying goes that there’s a first time for everything, and everything about 2026-27 says it’s Sengun’s best bet at first-time All-NBA.
Featured Image: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
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