Alperen Şengün on the “Most Overrated” List: Are They Right or Wrong?

In recent days, a list circulating on social media landed right in the middle of the basketball agenda: in a survey where NBA players voted on each other, Alperen Şengün ranked at the top of the “most overrated player” category. As expected, the reaction from Turkish basketball fans came quickly. But it is worth taking one step back and looking at the issue calmly, because this picture has both a defensible side and a seriously distorted side.

The survey was conducted by The Athletic, which asked various questions to 81 selected players out of the NBA’s 450-player pool. In the question “Who is the most overrated player?”, the percentage of players who picked Alperen was announced as 12.3%, which equals roughly 10 players.

Let’s pause there: in a league of 450 players, 10 votes from an anonymous sample of 81 players does not mean “the entire NBA thinks Alperen is overrated.” We do not know who voted. Players who barely found minutes in the rotation, players who only played a few minutes during the season, or even players who may have barely matched up with Alperen could be part of that sample. On top of that, the timing of the survey matters. It came during a period when the Houston Rockets disappointed in the playoffs and Alperen’s performance was being questioned. The freshest memory always creates the strongest association. The problem is not necessarily the finding itself, but the way that finding is presented.

Why Is Şengün on This List?

That being said, explaining away those 10 votes as pure jealousy would not be honest either.

Alperen Şengün’s body language on the court remains one of the biggest discussion points of his career. Opening his arms after almost every possession, constantly arguing with referees, exaggerated reactions while expecting fouls, and ongoing complaints that interrupt the flow of the game… From the perspective of an opposing player, you are facing someone who is technically excellent but spends a large part of his psychological energy on the referees. It is not impossible that some players approached the survey from this angle. In fact, some of the players who participated openly said they wrote his name because “he is a very good player, but his attitude toward the referees bothers me.”

There is also the issue of his performance during the season occasionally falling below expectations. Alperen, in the most critical stage of his career — especially under playoff pressure — could not always show the kind of consistent leadership that carries a team. Despite his outstanding statistics, the debate over whether he is truly a franchise player is not fully closed yet.

So Who Is This Kid Really?

On the other hand, this also needs to be acknowledged: we are talking about a 23-year-old, two-time All-Star center who has earned the respect of defenders with his post game. And he did this while playing for years in Udoka’s system, a system that often left him with few options beyond initiating offense from around the three-point line. He played through injuries. And despite everything, he stayed relevant, stayed discussed, and stayed in the spotlight.

The phrase “the tree that bears fruit gets stoned” may be a cliché, but in this case, it fits perfectly. A white European player establishing himself near the center of the NBA this early inevitably creates friction within the league’s dominant demographic. The fact that a player who rose as high as 10th in All-Star fan voting dropped to 32nd in player voting can be read as a numerical reflection of that friction.

Conclusion: Being on This List Is Both Good and Bad News

Getting on the “overrated” list proves one thing above all: Alperen Şengün can no longer be ignored. To be envied, you first have to be noticed.

But that does not mean the criticism is completely empty. Time spent arguing with referees costs energy, damages image, and makes it easier for opponents to read you. If Alperen changes this — and he has every bit of talent needed to do so — these kinds of lists will naturally fade into history.

For now, the message is clear: the opinion of 10 players is not a sign of collapse. But it should not be completely ignored either.