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In accordance with team protocols, the Houston Rockets and Alperen Sengun transitioned to the NBA Preseason 2025 on Monday, claiming a victory against the Atlanta Hawks at the Toyota Center.
The 23-year-old center from Turkey played just over 17 minutes, achieving a game-high of 19 points on 5 of 9 shooting, which included making both of his three-point attempts. He showcased his playmaking ability with six assists, while also contributing five rebounds and two blocks.
In response to a question about the influence of his experience with the Turkish national team during EuroBasket 2025 on his preparation for the 2025-26 Regular Season, he replied confidently, “Absolutely.”
Sengun elaborated, “I had a bit of a brief season this summer. There wasn’t much downtime after the national team experience, but that worked in my favor. I returned here still in good shape and am prepared for the upcoming season.”
During his time playing in Riga from August 27 to September 14, Sengun averaged 21.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game, earning a silver medal and a place on the All-Star Five.
He commented on the effects of the recent FIBA tournament, saying, “I feel stronger. I’m not sure why, but I think I feel quicker. It’s as if I always feel faster, both with and without the ball.”
As the team prepares to host the Utah Jazz for their second preseason game on Wednesday, head coach Ime Udoka looks forward to having Kevin Durant take the court alongside his new teammates after he missed the preseason opener.
Following two additional exhibition games, the Rockets will face the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, in Paycom Center on October 21 to kick off the Regular Season.
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