For his part, Sengun has embraced it all. He admitted defense hasn’t always been a priority, and credited the team’s veterans and coaching staff for pushing him to improve. “I was never a defensive player in my career,” Sengun said. “I was just always scoring. But if you want to be an All-Star and the other s—, you gotta do everything.”
Source: Tim Bontemps @ ESPN
Source: Tim Bontemps @ ESPN
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Joe Cowley @JCowleyHoops
Caruso, Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC), Leonard (LAC), M. Thybulle (POR), S. Barnes (TOR), Antetokounmpo (MIL), N. Jokic (DEN), Davis (LAL), I. Hartenstein (NYK), A. Sengun (HOU) and H. Jones (NOP) are the 11 NBA players with 45+ steals and 30+ blocks so far this season, per Bulls PR – 7:02 PM
Caruso, Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC), Leonard (LAC), M. Thybulle (POR), S. Barnes (TOR), Antetokounmpo (MIL), N. Jokic (DEN), Davis (LAL), I. Hartenstein (NYK), A. Sengun (HOU) and H. Jones (NOP) are the 11 NBA players with 45+ steals and 30+ blocks so far this season, per Bulls PR – 7:02 PM
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Luka Doncic, Victor Wembanyama, and Alperen Sengun piling up in losing efforts
#EuroWatch #NBA
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/16… – 4:06 AM
Luka Doncic, Victor Wembanyama, and Alperen Sengun piling up in losing efforts
#EuroWatch #NBA
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/16… – 4:06 AM
BasketNews @BasketNews_com
Alperen Sengun EXPLODES against Isaiah Hartenstein 😨😤
pic.twitter.com/dXylGTt8ev – 1:49 AM
Alperen Sengun EXPLODES against Isaiah Hartenstein 😨😤
pic.twitter.com/dXylGTt8ev – 1:49 AM
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Alperen Sengun in the Rockets’ loss against the Knicks:
18 PTS
7/16 FG
10 REB
5 AST
4 BLK
And this insane poster 😳
pic.twitter.com/SU2xZwxOgN – 1:28 AM
Alperen Sengun in the Rockets’ loss against the Knicks:
18 PTS
7/16 FG
10 REB
5 AST
4 BLK
And this insane poster 😳
pic.twitter.com/SU2xZwxOgN – 1:28 AM
David Hardisty @clutchfans
Ime Udoka very unhappy with Amen and Sengun here pic.twitter.com/2DNqrjhiFD – 9:28 PM
Ime Udoka very unhappy with Amen and Sengun here pic.twitter.com/2DNqrjhiFD – 9:28 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Terrible call by the officials whistling Julius Randle for a charge when Alperen Sengun was very clearly moving. Luckily for Knicks, Randle now only up to 2 fouls close to end of first quarter. If he picks up another one, that charging call could be costly. – 8:33 PM
Terrible call by the officials whistling Julius Randle for a charge when Alperen Sengun was very clearly moving. Luckily for Knicks, Randle now only up to 2 fouls close to end of first quarter. If he picks up another one, that charging call could be costly. – 8:33 PM
Salman Ali @SalmanAliNBA
Alperen Sengun posterizes Isaiah Harteinstein! pic.twitter.com/sBuXaYbFfe – 8:22 PM
Alperen Sengun posterizes Isaiah Harteinstein! pic.twitter.com/sBuXaYbFfe – 8:22 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Thibs is challenging Isaiah Hartenstein’s second foul here at the 3:38 mark of the first quarter. This will be an interesting call. Doesn’t look like a foul, but there is contact. There’s also Alperen Sengun’s arm pushing Hartenstein away. – 7:58 PM
Thibs is challenging Isaiah Hartenstein’s second foul here at the 3:38 mark of the first quarter. This will be an interesting call. Doesn’t look like a foul, but there is contact. There’s also Alperen Sengun’s arm pushing Hartenstein away. – 7:58 PM
BasketNews @BasketNews_com
Alperen Sengun balling for Turkey at 16 years old 👀🇹🇷
pic.twitter.com/tGzhCxsicY – 12:35 PM
Alperen Sengun balling for Turkey at 16 years old 👀🇹🇷
pic.twitter.com/tGzhCxsicY – 12:35 PM
Adam Spolane @AdamSpolane
ICYMI: “Every year he’s been here he’s improved and he’s gonna continue to do that because he wants to be great”
Alperen Sengun put the work in this offseason and it has him in position to be the 2nd Turkish player to ever play in an NBA All-Star Game audacy.com/sportsradio610… – 1:29 PM
ICYMI: “Every year he’s been here he’s improved and he’s gonna continue to do that because he wants to be great”
Alperen Sengun put the work in this offseason and it has him in position to be the 2nd Turkish player to ever play in an NBA All-Star Game audacy.com/sportsradio610… – 1:29 PM
More on this storyline
Sengun has seen his numbers skyrocket, setting career-highs in points (21.6), rebounds (8.9), assists (4.8) and steals (1.2) per game, and his individual improvement mirrors Houston’s massive leap, as the 19-21 Rockets are a game behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the Western Conference’s final play-in spot. Sengun gives much of the credit for that improvement to the leadership of Udoka, VanVleet and Brooks, and the new standards that have been set in Houston. “When I grew up, I was always a winning player,” Sengun told ESPN. “I got, like, a lot of championships. Like small [ones], but I got all of them. I was never a loser. “I just want to win. I can do anything for the win. And all the coaching staff, everyone just wants to win.” -via ESPN / January 19, 2024
David Hardisty: Ime Udoka was straight and to the point about Alperen Sengun tonight: “He played one half of basketball, basically. He decided to show up at halftime and exerted himself the way he normally does. You saw the player that he is (in the second half).” -via Twitter @clutchfans / January 11, 2024
NBA Communications: Houston Rockets center Alperen Şengün and New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson have been named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for Week 11 of the 2023-24 season (Jan. 1-7). -via Twitter / January 8, 2024
