Ergin Ataman talks about Alperen Şengün: “The best passing center in the world, better than Jokic.”
Credits IPA Agency
During the podcast of EURO INSIDERS, Ergin Ataman made one of the important statements on Alperen Sengun, star of the Houston Rockets and leader of the Turkish national team.
For Ergin Ataman, there is no doubt:
“For me, he’s the best center in the world in terms of passing ability. Even better than Jokic.”
A total talent: vision, creativity, readings
During the summer in Eurobasket, Ataman was able to observe Şengün’s growth up close, and was impressed by the completeness of his talent.
He talks about him as if he were a player. able to see the game From the perspective of a true playmaker: his vision, creative reading, and ability to anticipate every situation make him an atypical and extraordinarily modern center. From the low post, he can create advantages on virtually every possession, reads double teams with clarity, and naturally involves all his teammates. Precisely because of this combination of technique and basketball intelligence, Ataman is convinced that, with consistency and health, Şengün could become one of the NBA’s iconic faces of the next few years.
Silent leadership and the right mindset
But talent alone does not tell the whole story. Ataman also strongly emphasizes the human dimension of his center: Despite his NBA All-Star status, Şengün has never acted “like a star”.
He brings genuine energy to every training session, approaches every day with passion, and presents himself as one of the most humble players in the group. The national team adores him because his attitude inspires and unites them. And it is precisely this blend of technical ability and a clean, almost contagious personality that, according to Ataman, makes Şengün a truly unique player on the world stage.
The Future: Triple-Doubles and Centrality for the Rockets
Ergin Ataman predicts an explosive NBA season for him:
“You’ll see him get three or four triple-doubles this year, I’m sure.”
And he adds that his role can further evolve thanks to the ability to act as a “second point guard”.
