In the latest anonymous player poll from The Athletic, Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun has been voted the NBA's "most overrated" player—but the numbers tell a more nuanced story than the headline suggests.

The 2026 survey, conducted from late February through early April, gathered responses from 161 players (about one-third of the league). However, only 81 players chose to weigh in on the "most overrated" category—the lowest participation of any question. Sengun received just 10 votes, or 12.3% of that small sample. Hardly a landslide.

"He's crying every play," one anonymous voter said. "He's talented, but, dude, just play hard."

For context, last year's winner of this dubious honor was Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton—who promptly led his team to the 2025 NBA Finals. So while the label stings, it's far from a career death sentence.

Still, even for a two-time All-Star, Sengun's game has shown cracks. Defensively, his on-off net rating differential was the worst among Houston's rotation players this season. Offensively, his efficiency has slipped: after posting true shooting percentages of 59.9% and 58.5% in his second and third seasons, those numbers dropped to 54.5% and 56.9% in years four and five. In the 2025 and 2026 playoffs, his true shooting fell to 49.1% and 51.9%—well below average for a center.

Other Rockets also received votes: Amen Thompson earned one "most overrated" vote and finished 11th for best defensive player (2.6%). Head coach Ime Udoka got two votes for most impressive coach (excluding your own). Jabari Smith Jr. received one vote for most underrated.

The takeaway? Sengun's talent is undeniable, but the numbers suggest a player still searching for consistency on both ends of the floor. For Rockets fans, the hope is that this poll becomes a footnote—just like it did for Haliburton.