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Alperen Sengun recently addressed a viral misunderstanding that captured the attention of basketball fans worldwide.
A video clip from the Houston Rockets' playoff opener against the Los Angeles Lakers appeared to show the Turkish center standing up as LeBron James walked past him.
Social media users quickly framed the moment as a sign of traditional Turkish reverence for elders or a young star honoring a legend.
The interaction gained momentum between two difficult nights for the Turkish star. Houston fell 107-98 in the series opener and suffered a 101-94 defeat on Tuesday night. Despite the 0-2 deficit, the conversation remained fixed on the sideline gesture.
Alperen Sengun clarified the situation following the Rockets' practice on Monday.
"I just saw that video today. Everybody was sending it to me," Sengun said. He explained that the movement was purely functional rather than ceremonial.
"I was just trying to get something out of my pocket, that's why I got up. No disrespect to LeBron, of course, but I didn't stand up for him. It was just something I was getting out of my pocket."
Close inspection of the footage supports the explanation from the 23-year-old center. Sengun appears to reach deep into his pocket while rising from his seat, a move necessitated by the depth of his pockets while sitting. The coincidence of James walking by at that exact moment fueled the narrative of an "homage" that simply did not happen.
Sengun grew up in Türkiye idolizing James and previously described playing against him as a dream come true.
Despite this admiration, he maintains a competitive focus during the postseason. He noted the humor in the viral clip but emphasized that he was not "giving him his flowers" during a heated series.
The off-court buzz contrasted sharply with the result of the actual game.
The Lakers secured a 107-98 victory in Game 1, led by a dominant performance from the 41-year-old James. He recorded 19 points, 13 assists, and eight rebounds, effectively controlling the flow of the game.
Sengun matched the scoring output with 19 points of his own but struggled significantly with his shooting efficiency.
The Rockets played under difficult conditions:
Sengun finished Game 1 with 19 points on 6-of-19 shooting and faced criticism for his lack of impact.
Fox Sports analyst Nick Wright criticized Sengun, saying that he should feel embarrassed by the performance. He noted that the young star is expected to surpass James at this stage of their careers.
The Lakers defeated the Rockets 101-94 on Tuesday night to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
James led his team with 28 points, while Sengun recorded a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Durant played 41 minutes in his return but committed nine turnovers during the loss. The Rockets now face a must-win situation as the series moves to Houston for Game 3.
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