The Rockets, under the leadership of Alperen Şengün, possess a combination of centers that has the potential to rank among the finest in the NBA.

Jock Landale reflected on the impressive performances of his Houston Rockets teammate, Alperen Şengün, from the previous season. He remembered the difficulties he faced while competing against Steven Adams and acknowledged his own significant improvements in health and performance. Consequently, he felt confident in asserting that the Rockets' roster of centers ranks among the finest in the NBA. Landale emphasized the substantial advantages of such depth, stating that it could be one of the team's greatest assets. “We have two starting centers, plain and simple, in Steven and Alpi,” Landale remarked. “That creates an intriguing dynamic. Considering our situation, I believe I am one of the top backups in the NBA, and fortunately, we have three players who are exceptionally skilled. I readily admit that they are two steps ahead of me. 

“When you assess the league, we present a challenge at that position in comparison to others. The Rockets have assembled an outstanding group of centers.” Adams, however, cautioned against prematurely ranking center groups, noting that evaluations are currently based solely on theoretical assessments. Nonetheless, he expressed optimism about the team's potential. “In the league, I’m not sure. We are quite solid,” Adams stated. “The players here are impressive. That’s more of a theoretical assessment. We haven’t yet played a game. The appearance on paper is irrelevant; the most cohesive team will ultimately be the deepest. 

“Talent-wise, it looks promising now. We need to establish that connection and chemistry as soon as possible.” The Rockets have a long-standing tradition of celebrating their “Legacy of Bigs,” a narrative that gained momentum after signing Dwight Howard, who was the most sought-after free agent at the time. The franchise has boasted Hall of Famers such as Elvin Hayes, Moses Malone, Ralph Sampson, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Yao Ming. While the current centers may not have reached such legendary status, their depth at the position could be among the best in the league. The ranking of the Rockets' center collection may ultimately depend on individual interpretation, especially when considering the presence of elite centers like Denver’s Nikola Jokić and Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, who have been recognized as the winners of the last four MVP awards.

The Mavericks secured their place in the NBA Finals last season by defeating the Timberwolves, utilizing a center duo of Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II. This combination was complemented by the rotation of Maxey Kleber, Dwight Powell, and Markieff Morris, providing both depth and versatility. In Miami, Bam Adebayo has earned All-Defensive honors in five of his seven seasons, supported by veteran Kevin Love as a backup. Meanwhile, the Knicks will rely on Mitchell Robinson to back up Karl-Anthony Towns once he returns to health. Giannis Antetokounmpo stands out as a formidable option for the Bucks, stepping in as a center when Brook Lopez is off the court. The Thunder have bolstered their roster with Isaiah Hartenstein and can also deploy Chet Holmgren in a center role. The Cavaliers have opted to shift Evan Mobley to center behind Jarrett Allen, with Tristan Thompson providing additional depth.

The Spurs feature Victor Wembanyama, whose presence alone is significant, although Zach Collins serves as a reliable backup. This creates considerable competition for the title of the league's premier center group. For the Rockets, the focus begins with their starting center. Alperen Şengün nearly achieved All-Star status last season, showcasing his talent against some of the league's top centers, highlighted by an impressive 45-point, 16-rebound, and five-steal game against Wembanyama in March. According to Landale, "For Alpi… he’s on the precipice of being one of the best." Unfortunately, a severe ankle sprain and a bruised knee curtailed Şengün’s season shortly after that standout performance against the Spurs, which was preceded by an exceptional triple-double against the Clippers. However, he is expected to be fully fit as he enters his fourth season. Following the addition of a Dirk Nowitzki-style fadeaway jump shot to his skill set last year, he has also been refining other one-legged jumpers akin to those of Nikola Jokić, along with improving his shooting range. Additionally, he stands to gain from practice sessions against Steven Adams and Landale, who has recently demonstrated strong performance in the Olympics, highlighting the advantages of having such depth at the center position.

Şengün expressed the need to intensify his efforts against his opponent, stating, "I must be more aggressive and box him out. He ranks among the top offensive rebounders in the league, which provides me with valuable learning opportunities. His presence will add toughness to our team. Steven is undoubtedly the strongest player in the NBA, and his contributions will be significant, particularly for my development. I have much to gain from competing with him during practices, as he imparts essential skills that I need to enhance. He is dedicated to teaching us everything he knows." 

Adams is expected to act as Şengün’s backup, although he could easily be viewed as a starter who does not begin games. Throughout his nine seasons since entering the league, Adams has only come off the bench in four instances. He would likely secure a starting position on at least two-thirds of the teams in the league. Adams has expressed his comfort with this role, noting that the primary distinction lies in "the personnel, the people you play with." There may be instances where Adams and Şengün share the court. Coach Ime Udoka mentioned that the Rockets have considered lineups featuring both centers, but after five days of practice, including scrimmages, they have yet to implement such a strategy. "We have explored it," Udoka stated. "When employing a double big lineup, it is preferable for one of them to possess shooting capabilities." He indicated that Şengün would need to demonstrate improvement in his shooting range for this option to be viable; however, even then, a pairing of him and Adams would likely be reserved for matchups against teams utilizing double-big lineups.

Şengün, for his part, expressed confidence in his three-point shooting following a summer of dedicated training. "I am certainly comfortable playing as a power forward," he remarked. This arrangement could limit the playing time of Rockets forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason, potentially detracting from Şengün's strengths as a shot creator and playmaker. Nevertheless, it would enable the Rockets to keep Şengün on the court when they require Adams to defend against the league's largest centers. Until that time, some of the most challenging matchups for the Rockets' centers will occur against each other. "It always helps," Udoka noted. "Every practice has been exceptionally competitive."