NBA
AS
#28

Alperen Sengun

Center · Houston Rockets · 6'11", 243 lb · Born Jul 25, 2002 · Giresun, Turkey · Drafted 16th overall, 2021
2× All-StarTurkish League MVP (18)Playmaking hub🇹🇷 Turkey
NBAHouston RocketsCenters
Compare:vs Thompsonvs Jr.vs Okogievs Durantvs Sheppardvs Adams
In short

Alperen Şengün is a playmaking hub center for the Houston Rockets and a two-time NBA All-Star — the first Turkish player to make multiple All-Star teams. A Turkish Super League MVP at 18, he was drafted 16th in 2021 and became one of the league's best passing bigs, often compared to Nikola Jokić. He averaged a near triple-double-caliber 20/9/6 in 2025-26 and led Turkey to the EuroBasket final.

Matchup model · next gameMedium confidenceSat, Nov 14
@Golden State WarriorsAggressive hedge & help
Proj. points
20.3
range 17.2–23.4
Line 20.5
48%
to go over
Team win
41%
111–113
Poi 20.3 Lean underReb 8.9 Lean underAss 6.2 Lean overPRA 35.4 Lean under
Likely on himAl Horford· 80 Rim protectionStrong defender
15+ pts94%20+ pts53%25+ pts9%

Model lines Sengun at 20.3 pts (range 17.2–23.4) vs a 20.5 line — roughly a coin flip to clear it (48%).

Model favors Golden State Warriors (59%), projected 111–113, ~224 total at 96.5 pace.

Full matchup breakdown · all markets →
Balladex Matchup Model — modeled from real roster ratings, scoring baselines & defender-matchup history. Schedule, availability & head-to-head samples are illustrative in this prototype; production wires live schedule, injury & player-tracking feeds. Not betting advice.
✦ Ask anything about Sengun
The Sengun Story — narrated
Tap play to hear his story, told as a 90-second short.
🔊 Prototype uses your browser's built-in voice. Production would use a studio-grade AI narrator.

A fisherman's son who was a pro MVP at 18 — and became the Jokić-style hub of the Rockets' offense.

Born in Giresun, Şengün won the Turkish Super League MVP at 18 — the youngest ever — before Houston acquired his draft rights in 2021.

🇹🇷 Turkish MVP at 1816th, 2021

He blossomed into one of the NBA's best passing bigs and a two-time All-Star — the first Turk to make it twice.

⭐ 2× All-StarFirst Turkish 2×

In 2025-26 he averaged 20/9/6, running Houston's offense from the post and elbow.

20.4 / 8.9 / 6.25 yr / $185M

He led Turkey to the EuroBasket 2025 final and an All-Tournament selection.

🇹🇷 EuroBasket finalAll-Tournament
— end of story —
Want the full numbers? Open the breakdown →
PPG
20.4
2025-26
RPG
8.9
per game
APG
6.2
per game
FG%
.519
.305 from three
LIFE

Roots & the rise

A brilliant passing hub center and Jokić-style playmaker — the skilled heartbeat of the Rockets' offense.

Alperen Şengün was born in Giresun, Turkey, the son of a fisherman and former pro point guard, and rose through the Turkish club system to win the Turkish Super League MVP at just 18 — the youngest ever. Oklahoma City drafted him 16th in 2021 and traded his rights to Houston, where he blossomed into one of the NBA's best playmaking bigs.

A two-time All-Star (2025, 2026) — the first Turkish player to make it twice — he runs the Rockets' offense from the elbow and post with elite vision, averaging 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists in 2025-26. He led Turkey to the EuroBasket 2025 final and an All-Tournament selection, cementing his status as a global star.

Sources: Wikipedia, NBA.com, Basketball-Reference, ESPN.

BEYOND THE GAME

Beyond the game

Şengün's basketball roots are humble and family-deep: his father Kemal was a first-division point guard in Turkey in the late 1980s and worked as a fisherman, and Alperen took up the game watching his older brother. His late-game free-throw routine — quietly talking to the ball — has become an endearing signature. He cites Nikola Jokić as his inspiration, and the 'Baby Jokić' comparison follows him for good reason.

His identity is skill and feel: a highly efficient low-post scorer with drop steps, spins, and fadeaways, and a passing IQ that makes him the hub of everything Houston runs. His defense draws criticism, but his offensive orchestration — and his leadership of the Turkish national team to a EuroBasket final — make him one of the most complete young bigs in the world.

PERSONALITY

The person

A skilled, high-IQ passing hub center — elite post scoring and Jokić-style vision.

Elite passerRuns the offense as a hub; 6-plus assists a game from the post and elbow.
Crafty scorerEfficient footwork — drop steps, spins, and fadeaways in the paint.
Global starTwo-time All-Star and EuroBasket finalist for Turkey.
PLAYER DNA

Archetype & ratings

Archetype
Playmaking Hub Center · All-Star
Temperament
Alpha
Leadership
70/100
Scoring74
Playmaking64
Rebounding87
Perimeter D50
Rim protection85
Spacing54
Athleticism70
Clutch68
Elite passing bigPost hubAll-Star
ANALYSIS

What the numbers say

The offensive hub

Şengün is the rare center who orchestrates an offense — his 6.2 assists and elite feel let Houston run everything through him, with cutters, shooters, and Durant benefiting from his passing. Pair that with efficient post scoring and rebounding, and he's a near-triple-double-caliber engine, the reason the Rockets' half-court offense hums.

The defensive question

The one knock is defense — Şengün isn't a rim protector and can be targeted in space, a limitation Houston covers with elite perimeter defenders like Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith. On a contender, his job is to anchor the offense and rebound, and his passing-and-scoring package is worth far more than his defensive shortcomings cost.

STATS

Season by season

Per game

SeasonGPMINPTSREBASTFG%3P%
2025-267233.320.48.96.2.519.305

Source: Basketball-Reference.

ADVANCED

Advanced & historical

Where he sits in history

All-StarTwo-time NBA All-Star (2025, 2026) — the first Turkish player to make it twice
2021Turkish Super League MVP at 18 — the youngest ever
EuroBasket 2025Led Turkey to the final and made the All-Tournament team

Hardware

2×
NBA All-Star (2025, 2026)
1×
Turkish League MVP (2021)
OUTLOOK

Where it's headed

AI-generated · updated July 13, 2026

A two-time All-Star and offensive hub in his prime — the passing engine of a Rockets contender.

On a five-year, $185 million extension, Şengün is one of the best young offensive bigs in the world — a passing, scoring hub who elevates everyone around him. Improving his defense is the swing that could make him a perennial All-NBA center.

Playmaking (big)Elite
Post scoringElite
ReboundingStrong
DefenseBelow average

Contract

Deal
5 yr / $185M signed 2024
Role
Offensive hub All-Star C
Age
23 rising
Bottom line

A fisherman's son turned Jokić-style hub — one of the best young offensive bigs alive. The passing engine of a Houston contender, with All-NBA upside if the defense follows.

FAQ

Quick answers

Why is Alperen Şengün compared to Nikola Jokić?

For his elite passing and playmaking from the center position; he cites Jokić as his inspiration and runs Houston's offense as a hub, earning the 'Baby Jokić' comparison.

What has Alperen Şengün achieved?

Two NBA All-Star selections (the first Turkish player to make it twice), a Turkish League MVP at 18, and a EuroBasket 2025 final run with Turkey.

Where is Alperen Şengün from?

Giresun, Turkey; he was a professional MVP in the Turkish league at 18 before reaching the NBA.