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USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
2024-25 NBA awards ballots: Who voted for members of the Rockets?
2024-25 NBA awards ballots: Who voted for members of the Rockets? With the NBA's 2024-25 awards season now complete, the league has released the individual voter ballots from its media panel. Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, and Ime Udoka were popular choices. In the 2024-25 regular season, the Houston Rockets enjoyed one of the biggest year-on-year jumps of any NBA team. After finishing 2023-24 with a 41-41 record and a No. 11 placement among the 15 Western Conference teams, Houston improved to 52-30 and No. 2 in the West in 2024-25. That type of growth also made the Rockets a frequent choice in the league's annual awards, which are voted on by a 100-person media panel consisting of regional, national, and international voices who cover the NBA. Second-year forward Amen Thompson made the league's All-Defensive First Team while also capturing votes for Defensive Player of the Year. Ime Udoka was a finalist for Coach of the Year. Alperen Sengun narrowly missed out on All-NBA honors. With all of the 2024-25 awards having now been handed out, the NBA has released its complete voting totals and voter ballots. The balloting was tabulated by an independent accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP. Here is a link to each category in which the Rockets had votes. The only award that isn't included is Executive of the Year (Houston's Rafael Stone finished at No. 4), since the NBA's executive award is voted on by other executives and not the media panel. All voting totals are out of a maximum combined total of 100. Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Amen Thompson, Rockets (fifth place): 9 first-place votes, 12 second-place votes, 12 third-place votes Thompson's highest votes (first team) were from Kelly Iko, The Athletic; Fred Katz, The Athletic; Andy Larsen, Sale Lake Tribune; Adam Lefkoe, WarnerMedia; Brian Lewis, New York Post; Kevin O'Connor, Yahoo! Sports; Kevin Pelton, ESPN; Gary Washburn, Boston Globe; and Matt Winer, WarnerMedia. VOTING TOTALS | VOTER BALLOTS Kia NBA Most Improved Player Amen Thompson, Rockets (seventh place): 1 first-place vote, 2 second-place votes, 7 third-place votes Thompson's first-place vote was from Frank Isola of Sirius Radio, while his second-place votes came via Chris Broussard of Fox Sports and Flavio Tranquillo of Sky Italia. VOTING TOTALS | VOTER BALLOTS NBA Coach of the Year Ime Udoka, Rockets (third place): 7 first-place votes, 13 second-place votes, 39 third-place votes Udoka's first-place votes came from David Aldridge, The Athletic; Brian Geltzeiler, Sirius Radio; Katie George, ESPN/ABC; Yoko Miyaji, Sports Graphic Number; Kendrick Perkins, ESPN; Ryen Russillo, The Ringer; and Dennis Scott, WarnerMedia. VOTING TOTALS | VOTER BALLOTS Kia All-NBA Team Alperen Sengun, Rockets (narrowly missed third team): 6 second-team votes, 40 third-team votes Sengun's second-team votes came from Steve Aschburner, Zach Harper, The Athletic; Frank Isola, Sirius Radio; Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic; Stephen A. Smith, ESPN; and Flavio Tranquillo, Sky Italia. VOTING TOTALS | VOTER BALLOTS Kia NBA All-Defensive Team Amen Thompson, Rockets (named to First Team): 74 first-team votes, 23 second-team votes (named to First Team): 74 first-team votes, 23 second-team votes Dillon Brooks, Rockets: 2 first-team votes, 3 second-team votes The two first-team votes for Brooks came from Antoni Daimiel of Movistar+ and Stan Van Gundy of WarnerMedia. VOTING TOTALS | VOTER BALLOTS Kia NBA All-Rookie Team Reed Sheppard, Rockets: 1 second-team vote The second-team vote for Sheppard came from Dennis Scott of WarnerMedia. VOTING TOTALS | VOTER BALLOTS Awards Unrepresented by Rockets Houston did not receive any votes in the following categories: Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year; Kia NBA Most Valuable Player; Kia NBA Rookie of the Year; and Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year. Voting totals and awards ballots for those categories are available here. More: Rockets star Amen Thompson named to NBA's All-Defensive First Team for 2024-25 season
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘Hungry for more': Alperen Sengun reflects on Houston's 2024-25 season
Though Houston ultimately lost its first-round playoff series to the Golden State Warriors, it was an encouraging NBA postseason debut for Alperen Sengun. Across those seven games, the 22-year-old big man led the Rockets on a per-game basis in average points (20.9), rebounds (11.9), assists (5.3), and steals (1.9). Advertisement On Monday, a little over a week removed from a harsh Game 7 defeat at home, Sengun took to Instagram to reflect on the 2024-25 season. Among his comments: Thank you, Houston, for another incredible season. I'm proud of this team — my brothers. We fought every step of the way, grew together, and earned everything we achieved. The journey wasn't easy, but we stayed locked in. We're not satisfied — we're hungry for more. This season taught us a lot, and next year, we're coming back stronger. Time to lock in, get to work, and elevate. Let's get it. Sengun, who earned Western Conference All-Star honors for the first time in 2025, concluded his message with the #NextChapter and #WorkInProgress hashtags. Sengun's Instagram post includes a compilation of photos and videos from the playoffs. The upcoming 2025-26 season will be the Turkish star's fifth NBA season and the first under a new contract, under which he'll get a significant pay increase for years to come. More: 'Fought with grit, heart, and determination': Steven Adams reflects on Rockets' season This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: 'Hungry for more': Alperen Sengun reflects on Houston's 2024-25 season
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
For first time in career, Rockets center Alperen Sengun draws All-NBA votes
In his fourth NBA season, Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun made his first career All-Star appearance during the recently completed 2024-25 campaign. For the first time, the 22-year-old rising star also drew votes for the league's 2024-25 Kia All-NBA teams. With 40 third-team votes and six second-team votes, Sengun finished with 58 total voting points. That made him the closest player to landing All-NBA honors beyond the 15 who earned the distinction. Advertisement For the 15th and final All-NBA slot, Sengun was edged out for the third team by former Rockets star James Harden. Now with the Los Angeles Clippers, the former Most Valuable Player (MVP) and future Hall of Famer had 56 third-team votes and four second-team votes, giving him 68 voting points. With his No. 16 voting finish among all players, Sengun was the only Houston player who received All-NBA votes this season. Each of the three All-NBA teams consists of five players, regardless of position. Sengun finished the 2024-25 regular season averaging 19.1 points (49.6% FG), 10.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game, making it the first time in his young career that he's averaged a double double. He put up those numbers in a winning context, as well, with the Rockets (52-30) finishing with the fourth-best record in the NBA and the second-best in the Western Conference. Advertisement And while Houston ultimately lost its first-round playoff series to the Golden State Warriors, Sengun enjoyed an encouraging postseason debut, as well. Across seven hard-fought games, the Turkish big man led the Rockets on a per-game basis in average points (20.9), rebounds (11.9), assists (5.3), and steals (1.9), and his defense exceeded virtually all expectations. This fall, Sengun will enter the 2025-26 season in the first season of a five-year contract extension, which includes a significant pay increase that he earned through improved play in recent seasons. Observers around the league noticed, as well — including the panel of 100 regional, national, and international observers that vote on the NBA's annual awards (such as the All-NBA teams). Of those 100 voters, nearly half (46) voted Sengun to an All-NBA team. More: 'Hungry for more': Alperen Sengun reflects on Houston's 2024-25 season This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: For first time in career, Houston's Alperen Sengun draws All-NBA votes
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
For first time in career, Rockets center Alperen Sengun draws All-NBA votes
For first time in career, Rockets center Alperen Sengun draws All-NBA votes Rockets center Alperen Sengun was a first-time NBA All-Star in the 2024-25 season, and he also drew his first votes for the league's All-NBA teams. He was edged out for the final slot by James Harden. In his fourth NBA season, Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun made his first career All-Star appearance during the recently completed 2024-25 campaign. For the first time, the 22-year-old rising star also drew votes for the league's 2024-25 Kia All-NBA teams. With 40 third-team votes and six second-team votes, Sengun finished with 58 total voting points. That made him the closest player to landing All-NBA honors beyond the 15 who earned the distinction. For the 15th and final All-NBA slot, Sengun was edged out for the third team by former Rockets star James Harden. Now with the Los Angeles Clippers, the former Most Valuable Player (MVP) and future Hall of Famer had 56 third-team votes and four second-team votes, giving him 68 voting points. With his No. 16 voting finish among all players, Sengun was the only Houston player who received All-NBA votes this season. Each of the three All-NBA teams consists of five players, regardless of position. Sengun finished the 2024-25 regular season averaging 19.1 points (49.6% FG), 10.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game, making it the first time in his young career that he's averaged a double double. He put up those numbers in a winning context, as well, with the Rockets (52-30) finishing with the fourth-best record in the NBA and the second-best in the Western Conference. And while Houston ultimately lost its first-round playoff series to the Golden State Warriors, Sengun enjoyed an encouraging postseason debut, as well. Across seven hard-fought games, the Turkish big man led the Rockets on a per-game basis in average points (20.9), rebounds (11.9), assists (5.3), and steals (1.9), and his defense exceeded virtually all expectations. This fall, Sengun will enter the 2025-26 season in the first season of a five-year contract extension, which includes a significant pay increase that he earned through improved play in recent seasons. Observers around the league noticed, as well — including the panel of 100 regional, national, and international observers that vote on the NBA's annual awards (such as the All-NBA teams). Of those 100 voters, nearly half (46) voted Sengun to an All-NBA team. More: 'Hungry for more': Alperen Sengun reflects on Houston's 2024-25 season
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rockets 'Open' To Trading Alperen Sengun For $175 Million MVP
The Houston Rockets made the playoffs this year for the first time since 2020. They were the second seed in the West and played the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 2025 postseason. Despite having home-court advantage in the series, though, the Rockets lost to the Warriors in seven games. Advertisement Houston was led in scoring during the regular season by Jalen Green, who averaged 21.0 points and played in all 82 games. Meanwhile, Alperen Sengun made his first All-Star team and averaged a double-double (19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds) in 76 games. Some believe the Rockets need to trade for a bona fide superstar this summer to become a legitimate title contender. To acquire a superstar, though, Green and/or Sengun may have to be traded. Houston Rockets center Alperen SengunMandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images According to Kurt Helin of NBC Sports, the Rockets are open to trading Sengun for Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo. Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Monday that Antetokounmpo is open-minded about leaving the Bucks for the first time in his career. Advertisement "Houston would be open to trading Alperen Sengun, league sources told NBC Sports, but the Bucks may be higher on a Jalen Green-based trade (depending on how they rate Green)," Helin wrote. "Jabari Smith Jr. is likely part of any deal, and the Rockets have a lot of future first-round picks — their own and others, such as Brooklyn and Phoenix picks — that could be part of the trade. It likely takes a third team to make the math work, but it's very doable." The Bucks will not trade Antetokounmpo unless the future Hall of Famer asks out. Antetokounmpo, 30, does not have a no-trade clause in his contract. He averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks for the Bucks this season in 67 games. Milwaukee lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in five games. The franchise has won just one postseason series since winning the 2021 championship. Advertisement Antetokounmpo will make $54.1 million next season. The two-time MVP signed a three-year, $175 million extension in October 2023. Related: Giannis Antetokounmpo 'Open' To Playing With 11-Time All-Star
