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Turkish national basketball player Alperen Sengun will take part in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, marking his second consecutive appearance in the league’s showcase event.
The 2026 NBA All-Star weekend runs from Feb. 14 to 16 at the Los Angeles Clippers’ home arena, Intuit Dome, featuring a new competition format.
Alperen Sengun, who plays for the Houston Rockets, will compete for the World Team.
He becomes the first Turkish player to appear in the All-Star event in consecutive years. He is also the second Turkish player in NBA history to reach the All-Star stage after Mehmet Okur, who achieved the milestone in 2007.
The 23-year-old center has averaged in 46 NBA games this season:
Speaking about his selection, Sengun said the recognition carries strong meaning for his family and country.
“It means a lot. It means a lot for my family, my country, and for those who come here to watch us, and for those in Türkiye who wake up at 4 a.m. to watch us. It is incredible. I am truly grateful. I will continue to make my family and my country proud,” he said.
The 2026 event introduces a new structure featuring three teams instead of the traditional East vs West format.
The teams include:
The tournament format includes short games lasting 12 minutes each. All three teams will face one another, and the two best-performing teams will advance to a fourth and final game to determine the champion.
Team rosters
The event also features players selected as conference starters. In the Eastern Conference, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham and Tyrese Maxey were named to the starting lineup, though Antetokounmpo later withdrew due to injury.
Western Conference starters included Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama, with Curry and Gilgeous Alexander also removed because of injuries.
The 2026 selections mark the end of LeBron James’ long-standing streak as an All-Star starter. The American star had been chosen for the starting lineup for 21 consecutive seasons.
James will still participate in the event as a reserve, extending his record with a 22nd All-Star appearance at age 41.
The All-Star weekend and main game will be broadcast live in Türkiye on the digital platform S Sport Plus.
Sengun’s presence in the World Team has drawn strong attention among Turkish basketball fans, with expectations focused on the international squad’s performance under the new format.
The event highlights Sengun’s growing influence in the NBA and his role as one of Türkiye’s most prominent athletes on the global stage.
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