After four seasons in the NBA, Alperen Sengun has become one of the league’s best centers. Known as “Baby Jokic” by some due to his offensive similarities to Nikola Jokic, Sengun has gained recognition for his play and his impact on the Houston Rockets. However, at this year’s EuroBasket, the Turkish center is rising to new heights.
That’s because Sengun led Turkey to seven wins in seven matches, in addition to receiving the MVP award on all seven occasions. He became the youngest player in the history of the competition to achieve a triple-double on Tuesday. Thus, his teammate Furkan Korkmaz did not spare praise for his performances.
Also Read: 2025 EuroBasket: Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Greece Reach Euro Semifinals after 16 Years
“Until now, I thought Joel Embiid was the best player—the best center I’ve played with. But I think we can say it’s Alperen [Şengun] now,” the former Philadelphia player commented at a press conference after the victory against Poland.
In the match, Sengun scored 19 points, 12 rebounds, ten assists and three steals, achieving the sixth triple-double in EuroBasket history.
With his seven MVP awards, he leads the tournament by a wide margin and currently leads the race for MVP. The other two players with the most MVP awards are Luka Doncic and Franz Wagner, with four each.
Collectively speaking, the Turkish national team’s campaign is also impressive. The team has won every game it has played so far and reached the EuroBasket semifinals for the first time in 24 years. The final match will take place this Friday against Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Greece. On the other side, Wagner’s Germany – another undefeated team – faces Doncic’s Slovenia for a spot in the semifinals. Finland and Georgia are also battling it out for the final spot in the next round.
Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
nba 
soccer 
wnba 
NBA 
