NBA player poll: Rockets star Alperen Sengun deemed ‘most overrated’
With 10 votes (12.6%), Rockets center Alperen Sengun led the way in “most overrated” votes from The Athletic’s 2026 anonymous NBA player poll.
In The Athletic’s annual anonymous poll of NBA players, Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun finished with the most votes as the league’s most overrated player. “He's crying every play,” one Sengun voter said ( via The Athletic ). “He's talented, but, dude, just play hard.
” The 2026 survey was conducted from late February through early April and consisted of 161 players, or approximately one-third of the total player workforce. Players were not required to answer every question. In Sengun’s case, there is some important context to consider.
Even under anonymity, only 81 players voted in the “most overrated” category — the fewest of any question — and just 10 votes (12. 3%) went to Sengun. So, the margin was far from convincing.
Furthermore, the leader in this same category one year ago was Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, who went on to lead his team to the 2025 NBA Finals. With that in mind, it certainly shouldn’t be viewed as a major indictment on Sengun as a player. Other Rockets receiving votes: Amen Thompson got one vote for most overrated and finished 11th (2.