Alperen Şengün
Alperen Şengün is a Turkish professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also represents the senior Turkish national team. Known for his post skills and creative playmaking abilities, Şengün was selected with the 16th overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft. He was named to his first NBA All-Star Game in 2025.
Şengün was born on 25 July 2002 in Giresun, a city in northeastern Turkey, to Kemal Şengün, a fisherman and former point guard who played in Turkey's first division in the late 1980s, and Ayşe Şengün. Although his parents wanted him to pursue swimming, he developed an appreciation for basketball after watching his older brother play. Şengün started to play basketball at the age of eight and trained in both basketball and swimming; however, due to the limited time available to train in both, he chose basketball.
Youth career: Giresun University and Banvit (2012–2019)
In 2012, Şengün began playing youth basketball with teams affiliated with the sports club of Giresun University, where he remained until 2014. After being scouted by head coach Ahmet Gürgen during a youth sports festival, Şengün moved to Bandırma, in northwestern Turkey, where he signed a youth contract with Banvit on 19 August 2014. During the 2018–19 season, while playing for Banvit's under-19 team, Şengün won the Turkish Basketball Youth League championship, which had been established in 2017. He was also named the league's MVP.
Bandırma Kırmızı (2018–2019)
Şengün began his professional club career during the 2018–19 TBL season with Bandırma Kırmızı, a team competing in the second-tier Turkish First League (TBL). Over 29 games, he averaged 10.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 21.9 minutes per game. He shot 47.6 percent from the field overall, including 53.6 percent on two-point attempts, 25.9 percent from three-point range, and 60.0 percent from the free-throw line.
Teksüt Bandırma (2019–2020)
For the 2019–20 BSL season, Şengün joined Turkish Super League (BSL) club Teksüt Bandırma, a club in the top-tier Turkish Super League. In 22 league games, he averaged 5.0 points and 3.9 rebounds in 13.5 minutes per game. He recorded a field goal percentage of 51.1 percent overall, including 57.5 percent on two-point attempts, 0-for-10 from three-point range, and 58.6 percent from the free-throw line. He also competed in the FIBA Basketball Champions League, one of Europe's secondary-level club competitions. During the 2019–20 BCL season, he appeared in 15 games, averaging 6.6 points and 3.3 rebounds in 14.9 minutes per game. He shot 48.0 percent from the field overall, including 53.6 percent on two-point attempts, 31.6 percent from three-point range, and 63.6 percent from the free-throw line.
Beşiktaş (2020–2021)
In August 2020, Şengün signed a three-year contract with the Turkish club Beşiktaş. He had an outstanding regular season, averaging 19.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.7 blocks in 28.3 minutes per game across 29 appearances in the Basketball Super League. On 12 May 2021, he was named the BSL Most Valuable Player for the regular season. On the same day, he announced his decision to enter the 2021 NBA draft. Over the course of the 2020–21 BSL season, Şengün averaged 18.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks in 28.1 minutes per game across 34 appearances. He shot 62.6 percent from the field overall, including 66.7 percent on two-point attempts, 21.2 percent from three-point range, and 81.2 percent from the free-throw line. Şengün also competed with Beşiktaş in the FIBA Europe Cup, a fourth-tier European-wide competition. During the 2020–21 season, he appeared in three games, averaging 23.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.7 steals, and 2.0 blocks in 29.7 minutes per game. He shot 71.0 percent from the field overall, including 75.9 percent on two-point attempts, 0–2 from three-point range, and 69.4 percent from the free-throw line.
Houston Rockets (2021–present)
Prior to the 2021 NBA draft, Şengün was projected to be a potential lottery draft pick but was ultimately selected outside the lottery with the 16th overall pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder had acquired the 16th pick from the Boston Celtics as part of a trade that sent Kemba Walker to Oklahoma City in exchange for Al Horford, Moses Brown, and a 2023 second-round pick. Shortly after selecting Şengün, the Thunder traded his draft rights to the Houston Rockets in exchange for two future first-round picks. On 7 August 2021, he signed a contract with the Rockets. Şengün made his NBA debut on 20 October 2021, playing approximately 18 minutes and recording 11 points, six rebounds, two assists, and three steals in a 106–124 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. During his rookie season, Şengün primarily served as a backup center behind Christian Wood and Daniel Theis. Midway through the season, he took on a more prominent role in the frontcourt rotation after Theis was traded away at the deadline. On 9 March 2022, Şengün posted 21 points and 14 rebounds in a 139–130 overtime win against the Los Angeles Lakers. Seventeen days later, he recorded a season-high 27 points along with seven rebounds in a 115–98 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. In his rookie season, Şengün appeared in 72 games, starting 13 and missing 10 of them, averaging 9.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game.
Junior national team
Şengün competed with the Turkish under-16 national team at the 2018 FIBA Under-16 European Championship, which was held in Novi Sad, Serbia. In the competition, he won the bronze medal. Şengün was also selected to the competition's All-Tournament Team. In seven games played with an average of 24.9 minutes, he recorded 14.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. He shot 56.9 percent from the field overall, including 61.9 percent on two-point attempts, 22.2 percent from three-point range, and 48.6 percent from the free-throw line. He played a role on the Turkish under-17 national team that competed at the 2018 FIBA Under-17 World Cup, which was held in Argentina. Turkey ultimately finished in fifth place. In seven games with an average of 28.6 minutes, he averaged 15.9 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. He shot 58.3 percent from the field overall, including 64.1 percent on two-point attempts, 12.5 percent from three-point range, and 56.5 percent from the free-throw line.
Senior national team
In November 2020, Şengün joined the senior Turkish national team, as he played with Turkey at the 2022 EuroBasket Qualifiers. In four games played at the qualifiers, he averaged 12.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks in 23.1 minutes per game. He shot 53.3 percent from the field overall, 51.9 percent on two-point field goal attempts, 66.7 percent on three-point field goal attempts and 50 percent from the free-throw line. In September 2022, Şengün played at EuroBasket 2022. He was the best player on the team, leading the team in points (16.8 per game) and rebounds (8.2 per game). Şengün and Turkey were eliminated in the round of 16 after losing to France in overtime.
Imagem: Zafer · BY · Openverse
Şengün is 6 feet 11 inches (2.11 metres) tall and 243 pounds (110 kilograms) with a seven-foot (2.13 m) wingspan. Şengün plays at the power forward and center position. NBA commentators and scouts considered him a "skilled" and "productive" big man entering the 2021 NBA draft following his season in the Turkish League. With a solid frame and wide base, he is known for a versatile and highly efficient low-post game that utilizes drop steps, spin moves and fadeaways. Şengün is additionally equipped with a passing ability that is supplemented by what scouts view as an advanced feel for the court — that is, the ability to space the court, set screens, cut to the rim and make plays within the flow of the offense. As a defender, he is effective on on-ball matchups in isolation against other big men, though his defense in general has been criticized. His free-throw routine where he speaks to the basketball has also garnered attention by NBA commentators.
