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On Monday, Kevin Durant officially kicked off his 18th season in the NBA during the preseason media day, where he took the opportunity to commend Alperen Sengun.
“I’ve had the chance to play alongside some exceptional big men who excel in their roles—guys who can defend, score in the post, set solid screens, finish at the rim, and block shots. However, I believe Alpi does a bit of everything and even more. He can also handle the ball like a guard on the perimeter,” Durant shared his thoughts on the Houston Rockets’ 23-year-old Turkish center.
The two-time NBA champion, who followed Sengun during EuroBasket 2025 in the offseason, also made a transition to the Rockets through a trade and is close to finalizing a contract extension.
“It’s always a positive when you get to play in that environment,” he said, referring to his new teammate’s recent representation of Turkey in the FIBA tournament. “The style of basketball there is quite challenging. The pace is slower, and you really need to rely on your half-court game in EuroBasket. Such experiences contribute to your growth as a player. I believe going into my fifth year and experiencing a playoff series has only made me a more skilled and confident player.”
In response to Durant joining the Rockets, Sengun expressed his enthusiasm: “I’m really looking forward to playing alongside him. I can’t wait to learn from him and win games together.”
Sengun delivered an impressive performance during EuroBasket, averaging 21.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game, culminating in a silver medal and a spot on the tournament’s All-Star Five.
“I was given so much freedom, both by my coach and the players. Representing my country is always a different experience compared to playing here,” he reflected on his role with the team led by Ergin Ataman.
“EuroBasket served as a great preparation for me to come here and have a standout season. It allowed me to test my abilities while contributing to winning games,” he elaborated.
Despite an undefeated run in pool play and the knockout rounds, they fell short in the gold-medal game against Germany.
“It was incredibly rewarding to receive such support from Turkey. Our nation is vast, and its people are eager for success from their national teams. I’m proud we provided them with some joy. I wish we could have secured the title, but sometimes, we need to be patient. There’s a World Cup in two years, and I hope we can achieve even greater success and make our country proud,” Sengun concluded.
