LeBron James Praises Rockets’ Alperen Sengun After EuroBasket Success

HOUSTON, Texas — Alperen Sengun caught the attention of NBA fans and players alike this offseason, especially LeBron James, who praised the young center’s performance. Sengun led his native Turkey to an impressive 8-1 record and a second-place finish at the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 tournament.

The 23-year-old Sengun demonstrated his skills during EuroBasket, averaging 21.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists in the tournament. James commented on Sengun’s performance during an episode of his podcast, saying, “Hell of a summer. I think he’s going to ride that wave right to Houston and have a big year for them.”

Sengun’s success comes at a crucial time for the Houston Rockets, who are looking to adjust their offensive strategy with the addition of star player Kevin Durant. The Rockets are counting on Sengun to take on more scoring and playmaking responsibilities, especially following the injury to starting guard Fred VanVleet, who suffered a torn ACL.

In the Rockets’ first two preseason games, Sengun has shown he can handle the pressure. In one game against the Utah Jazz, he recorded 13 assists while managing the pace of the game effectively with Durant’s presence on the court. His previous season highlight includes an average of 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists, earning his first All-Star selection.

As the season begins, the Rockets hope Sengun can maintain his form from EuroBasket and become a central figure in their pursuit of success in the Western Conference.