Alperen Şengün Continues Historic All-Star Run for Houston Rockets

Houston Rockets center Alperen Şengün has once again made history as the first Turkish player to participate in the NBA All-Star Game for the second consecutive year. The 2026 NBA All-Star Games, held in a new mini-tournament format at the Intuit Home, home of the Los Angeles Clippers, saw Şengün contribute to the World Team whereas showcasing his growing talent on the global stage.

Şengün’s All-Star Performance

Şengün joined Mehmet Okur as the only Turkish players to ever be selected for the NBA All-Star Game, with Okur having earned the honor in 2007. In the opening match of the All-Star Games, the World Team faced the USA Stars in a game that went to overtime, ultimately resulting in a 37-35 victory for the USA Stars. Şengün played 3 minutes, recording 4 rebounds and 2 assists.

Tournament Results and Şengün’s Contributions

The USA Stripes team secured wins in the second and third All-Star games, defeating the USA Stars 42-40 and the World Team 48-45, respectively, to advance to the final. Şengün saw increased playing time in the third match against USA Stripes, logging 6 minutes and contributing 1 point, 1 rebound, and 2 assists.

The USA Stars ultimately claimed victory in the final, defeating the USA Stripes 47-21. Anthony Edwards was named the Kobe Bryant MVP of the All-Star Games, with a performance of 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in the final, and a total of 32 points and 9 rebounds across the three games.

Şengün’s Rising Star Status

Alperen Şengün, drafted 16th overall in the 2021 NBA draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder and subsequently traded to the Houston Rockets NBA.com, has quickly develop into a cornerstone of the Rockets franchise. Known for his post skills and playmaking ability Wikipedia, Şengün continues to elevate his game and represent Turkey with distinction on the international basketball stage.

Key Takeaways

• Alperen Şengün is the first Turkish player to be selected for the NBA All-Star Game in consecutive years.
• He joins Mehmet Okur as the only Turkish players to ever participate in an NBA All-Star Game.
• The 2026 NBA All-Star Games featured a new mini-tournament format.
• Anthony Edwards was named the Kobe Bryant MVP of the All-Star Games.