Dirk Nowitzki Breaks Down Alperen Sengun’s Attempt to Perfect the “Second Most Unstoppable” Move: “It’s a Work in Progress”

The most exciting part of Tuesday’s narrow match between the Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks was when a young center Alperen Sengun stole the spotlight. More so, he even grabbed the attention of Dirk Nowitzki, the legendary player of the NBA.

The Rockets narrowly lost despite excellent play from the Turk, whose new addition to the one-legged fadeaway jump resembled the one that made Nowitzki a legend. Now that Nowitzki is a Hall of Famer, he took some time to give his thoughts on Sengun to Vanessa Richardson of Houston’s Space City Home network.

Nowitzki’s Perspective on Sengun’s One-Legged Fadeaway: A work in progress

In his post-game interview, Dirk Nowitzki gave a nuanced assessment of Sengun’s one-legged fadeaway, noting that it could be an evolving maneuver but still a work in progress. In the game, this center man, who stands tall at 21 years, proved his command of the shot by scoring a whopping total of 31 points and 9 rebounds.

Nowitzki is the original master of the one-legged fallaway jumper and has praised Sengun’s shot progression by not only his emergent move but the multi-dimensionalness of his game, his ability to pass, score, and be the complete package.

“It looks pretty good [the one-legged fadeaway shot]. It’s a work in progress,” commented Nowitzki on Sengun’s attempt to perfect the move. Despite acknowledging the ongoing refinement, he couldn’t hide his genuine enthusiasm for the youngster’s performance and growth throughout the season.

“I’m impressed by his game, honestly. The versatility, the passing, the scoring… he’s having an incredible season,” Nowitzki added, offering a nod to the broader skill set that Sengun brings to the court. A veteran, who won an NBA championship in 2011 with the Mavericks, is also certain about something, and that is, Sengun may become another player like him.

Ascent of Alperen Sengun and  Dirk Nowitzki’s Legacy: A parallel journey?

Comparing the 21-year-old Sengun to the legendary Nowitzki represents an honor and a challenge at the same time. Today, Notwitzki’s fall-away one-legged jumper has earned its place in the NBA mythology as almost impossible to guard. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s sky hook is only superior to Nowitzki’s iconic shot according to LeBron James.

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The similarities between Sengun’s game and Nowitzki’s career become evident as he recognizes the potential in Sengun. Separated by a decade in age, both European big men have one thing in common—the quest for greatness in the NBA.

Read More: “That’s Beautiful”: Dirk Nowitzki Falls Flat over Alperen Sengun’s Ultimate Tribute to Mavericks Legend