Alperen Şengün (Turkish pronunciation: [ˈaɫpeɾæn ˈʃæɲɟyn], born 25 July 2002) 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.
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.
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.
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.
2022–23 season: Improving as a sophomore
At the beginning of the offseason, the Houston Rockets traded Christian Wood to the Dallas Mavericks, creating an opportunity for Şengün to be a starter. However, head coach Stephen Silas selected Bruno Fernando as the starting center, with him as a rim protector. Fernando had a patellar tendinitis injury in his left knee early in the season, and in his absence, Şengün was promoted to the starting lineup. On 26 November 2022, he recorded 21 points, seven assists, and a then-career-high 19 rebounds in a 118–105 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. On 6 December 2022, in a 132–123 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, Şengün became the youngest center in NBA history to record at least 1,000 points and 200 assists at 20 years and 133 days old, surpassing Brad Daugherty's previous record of 21 years and 153 days old.
On 11 January 2023, Şengün recorded his first career triple-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 135–115 loss to the Sacramento Kings, becoming the youngest player in Houston Rockets history to achieve a triple-double in a game. On 16 January 2023, he posted a season-high 33 points, along with 15 rebounds, six assists, and four blocks in a 140–132 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. He became the youngest player in Houston Rockets history to record at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in a game, surpassing the previous record set by Hakeem Olajuwon in 1984. He also became the youngest center in NBA history to record at least 30 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists in a game, breaking Shaquille O'Neal's record set in 1993. On 25 January 2023, Şengün recorded his second career triple-double with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 108–103 loss to the Washington Wizards. He became the youngest center in NBA history to record multiple triple-doubles. On 7 April 2023, he recorded a season-high 21 rebounds, along with 14 points in a win against the Charlotte Hornets. He also led all centers aged 20 or younger in assists per game, surpassing his own mark from his rookie season.
Şengün started in 72 out of 75 games he played, with averages of 14.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. He shot 55.3 percent from the field and averaged 28.9 minutes per game. His sophomore campaign drew praise from NBA stars: Kevin Durant liked his game; Paul George compared his passing and rebounding to Magic Johnson, Pau Gasol, and Nikola Jokić; and Anthony Edwards said the Rockets should build around Şengün.
Following recorded back-to-back 60-loss seasons, the Houston Rockets dismissed Stephen Silas as head coach and hired coach Ime Udoka. Udoka planned to build the offense around Şengün, while also focusing on improving his defense. On 31 October 2023, the Rockets announced that they had exercised Şengün's fourth-year option. In a victory over the Charlotte Hornets, Şengün became the youngest center to reach 500 assists, surpassing Nikola Jokić's previous record. On 20 November 2023, Şengün became the youngest player in Rockets history to record at least 2,000 points, 1,000, rebounds, and 500 assists, surpassing the previous record held by Rodney McCray. On 23 December 2023, Şengün scored 37 points, along with 11 rebounds and six assists in a 106–104 win against the New Orleans Pelicans.