Four seasons into his NBA career and the up-and-coming big man Alperen Sengun is already making a name for himself. At just 23 years old, the polarizing Houston Rockets center is already drawing attention to himself and H-town, thanks to his unique skillset and a career path that could be very similar to three European superstars before him.
Sengun … the Next Doncic/Jokic?
Well, some could say it’s a bit of a stretch, but Alperen Sengun having the same success as Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic isn’t too farfetched. The Turkish rising star may still not be on their level, but at this point in his career, he isn’t far off either. His 2024-2025 campaign was absolutely Sengun’s breakout year after averaging 19.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists while also leading the Houston Rockets to a 52-30 record in the West and was just a spot behind the No.1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder. It was the Rockets’ best season so far since the James Harden era, and that was partly because of Sengun breaking out into his prime. His efforts weren’t overlooked as well after being named to his first NBA All-Star game and was even just one point shy of being selected to the All-NBA Third Team. At the same age, Jokic was just starting to turn heads but quickly became a dominant force in the league averaging 20 and 11 consistently and making his first All-Star appearance at 23 years old.
Rockets GM Rafael Stone should be happy his draft night trade back in 2021 worked out well for the team. Stone already mentioned he saw something special in the young big man, and trading two-first round picks to get him was a no brainer. Getting him by hook or by crook was what he already had in mind. Sengun was already a Turkish league MVP at 18 years old, something only a handful of guys were able to do, like Luka Doncic, who also won MVP in Spain when he was 18.
Taking all of this into account, it’s not odd why Sengun could just be like Doncic or Jokic or at least share the same success as two of the best NBA players today.
It also helps that he’s already proving his worth in the 2025 EuroBasket after he led Turkey to an upset win over the host nation Latvia, featuring fellow NBA star Kristaps Porzingis. In dominant fashion, Sengun exploded with 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists in the 93-73 lopsided victory.
Legendary NBA Big Men Showing Some Love for Sengun
It’s quite rare to see old heads talk nice about the players today, especially Shaquille O’Neal who finds joy in criticizing big men. But, on some occasions, they sometimes do. After Sengun’s breakout year, Shaq surprisingly complemented the 6-foot-11 center, telling the media that he reminded him of a young Pau Gasol. Another NBA legend and one of the best centers in history, Hakeem Olajuwon, called Sengun a revolutionary big—someone who mixes the old and new ways of a big man—just like The Dream in the ‘90s.
This could be Sengun’s inspiration to reach greater heights in basketball, and maybe even bring the Rockets their first championship in thirty years.
Surely, the Rockets found their next cornerstone in Sengun—someone who could definitely be the next big thing in the NBA.
