Career Timeline of Alperen Şengün: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Alperen Şengün, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Alperen Şengün is a Turkish professional basketball player currently playing for the Houston Rockets in the NBA. Drafted 16th overall in 2021, he is recognized for his strong post play and playmaking skills. He also plays for the Turkish national team. Şengün has been named to the NBA All-Star Game twice (2025, 2026), making him Turkey's first two-time All-Star.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

2012: Youth Basketball Career Begins

In 2012, Şengün began his youth basketball career with teams affiliated with Giresun University's sports club.

August 2014: Signed with Banvit

In August 2014, Alperen Şengün moved to Bandırma and signed a youth contract with Banvit.

2018: Professional Debut with Bandırma Kırmızı

In 2018, Alperen Şengün began his professional club career with Bandırma Kırmızı in the Turkish First League (TBL).

2018: FIBA Under-16 European Championship

In 2018, Alperen Şengün competed with the Turkish under-16 national team at the FIBA Under-16 European Championship in Novi Sad, Serbia, where they won the bronze medal and Şengün was selected to the All-Tournament Team.

2018: FIBA Under-17 World Cup

In 2018, Alperen Şengün played for the Turkish under-17 national team at the FIBA Under-17 World Cup held in Argentina, where the team finished fifth.

2018: Turkish Basketball Youth League Championship

In 2018, Şengün and Banvit's under-19 team won the Turkish Basketball Youth League championship, with Şengün named the league's MVP.

2019: FIBA Under-18 European Championship Silver Medal

In 2019, Alperen Şengün played at the FIBA Under-18 European Championship, where the Turkish under-18 national team won the silver medal. He was also selected to that competition's All-Tournament Team.

2019: FIBA Basketball Champions League

In 2019, Şengün competed in the FIBA Basketball Champions League.

2019: Joins Teksüt Bandırma

In 2019, Şengün joined Turkish Super League (BSL) club Teksüt Bandırma.

August 2020: Signs with Beşiktaş

In August 2020, Şengün signed a three-year contract with the Turkish club Beşiktaş.

November 2020: Turkish National Team Debut

In November 2020, Alperen Şengün joined the senior Turkish national team, playing at the 2022 EuroBasket Qualifiers.

2020: Played for Beşiktaş in BSL season

In 2020, Şengün competed in BSL season and averaged 18.6 points.

May 2021: Named BSL MVP and Enters NBA Draft

On May 12, 2021, Şengün was named the BSL Most Valuable Player for the regular season and announced his decision to enter the 2021 NBA draft.

August 2021: Signed with Houston Rockets

In August 2021, after being drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder and traded to the Houston Rockets, Şengün signed a contract with the Rockets.

October 2021: NBA Debut

On October 20, 2021, Şengün made his NBA debut with the Houston Rockets in a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

2021: Drafted into NBA

In 2021, Alperen Şengün was selected with the 16th overall pick in the NBA draft, marking a significant milestone in his career.

2021: NBA Draft Evaluation

In 2021, NBA commentators and scouts considered Alperen Şengün a "skilled" and "productive" big man entering the NBA draft following his season in the Turkish League, highlighting his versatile low-post game and court awareness.

March 2022: Notable Performance Against the Lakers

On March 9, 2022, Şengün posted 21 points and 14 rebounds in an overtime win against the Los Angeles Lakers.

September 2022: EuroBasket 2022 Performance

In September 2022, Alperen Şengün played at EuroBasket 2022, leading the Turkish team in both points and rebounds. Turkey was eliminated in the round of 16 after losing to France in overtime.

November 2022: Career-High Rebounds Against Thunder

On November 26, 2022, Alperen Şengün recorded 21 points, seven assists, and a then-career-high 19 rebounds in a 118–105 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

December 2022: Youngest Center to Reach 1,000 Points and 200 Assists

On December 6, 2022, 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, during a win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

January 2023: First Career Triple-Double

On January 11, 2023, Şengün recorded his first career triple-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a loss to the Sacramento Kings, becoming the youngest player in Houston Rockets history to achieve this milestone. Then on January 16, he posted a season-high 33 points, along with 15 rebounds, six assists, and four blocks in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, becoming the youngest player in Houston Rockets history to record at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in a game.

April 2023: Season-High Rebounds and Assists Leadership

On April 7, 2023, Şengün recorded a season-high 21 rebounds and led all centers aged 20 or younger in assists per game.

October 2023: Fourth-Year Option Exercised

On October 31, 2023, the Rockets announced that they had exercised Şengün's fourth-year option, showing their continued investment in his development.

November 2023: Youngest Rockets Player to Reach Milestones

On November 20, 2023, Şengün became the youngest player in Rockets history to record at least 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 assists, surpassing Rodney McCray's previous record.

December 2023: High-Scoring Game Against Pelicans

On December 23, 2023, Şengün scored 37 points, along with 11 rebounds and six assists, in a win against the New Orleans Pelicans.

2023: Trade with Celtics

In 2023, the Thunder 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.

January 2024: Named NBA Player of the Week

During the week of January 1 to 7, 2024, Şengün was awarded his first career NBA Player of the Week honor. On January 20, he recorded 37 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists in a win over the Utah Jazz. On January 24, Şengün and teammate Jalen Green became the first duo in NBA history to each record at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in the same game while both were 21 years old or younger, in a win against the Los Angeles Lakers.

October 2024: Agreed to Contract Extension

On October 21, 2024, Şengün and the Houston Rockets agreed to a five-year, $185 million contract extension, securing his future with the team.

January 2025: Reaches 1,000th Career Assist and NBA All-Star Selection

On January 20, 2025, Şengün recorded his 1,000th career assist with five assists against the Detroit Pistons, becoming the youngest center in NBA history to reach the milestone. On January 30, he was named a reserve for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, marking his first selection.

March 2025: Double-Double Games in March 2025

In March 2025, Şengün recorded eight double-double games, contributing to the Rockets' 12–1 run and their securing the second seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

August 29, 2025: Near Triple-Double Against Czech Republic

On August 29, 2025, Alperen Şengün nearly achieved a triple-double with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists in Turkey's victory over the Czech Republic at EuroBasket 2025.

September 12, 2025: EuroBasket Semifinal Win Against Greece

On September 12, 2025, Alperen Şengün contributed 15 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists in Turkey's dominant 94-68 win against Greece during the EuroBasket semifinals.

September 14, 2025: EuroBasket Finals: Silver Medal

On September 14, 2025, in the EuroBasket finals, Alperen Şengün scored 28 points with 3 rebounds and 3 assists, but Turkey lost to Germany 88-83, securing the silver medal. Şengün was selected for the “all-star five” team for his distinguished performance in the tournament.

November 2025: Statistical Achievements and Recognition

In November 2025, Alperen Şengün achieved notable statistical milestones. On November 14, 2025, he became the youngest player to record at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists, two steals, three blocks, and four three-pointers in a single game against the Portland Trail Blazers. He also joined Nikola Jokić as one of the only two centers in NBA history to record at least five assists in each of the first 11 games of a season. Then, on November 16, 2025, against the Orlando Magic, Şengün scored 30 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. Kevin Durant praised Şengün's offensive abilities after the game.

2025: Named to First NBA All-Star Game

In 2025, Alperen Şengün was named to his first NBA All-Star Game, marking a historic achievement as Turkey's first two-time All-Star.

2025: Playoff Debut and Elimination

On April 20, 2025, Alperen Şengün made his NBA playoff debut, scoring 26 points with nine rebounds and three steals in a loss to the Golden State Warriors. Despite Şengün's strong performance in Game 7 with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists, the Rockets were eliminated from the playoffs in 2025.

February 2, 2026: Season-High Performance and Victory

On February 2, 2026, Alperen Şengün tied his season-high with 39 points, along with 16 rebounds and five assists, leading the Rockets to a 118–114 victory over the Indiana Pacers.