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Türkiye opened EuroBasket 2025 with a 93-73 win over Latvia, led by Houston Rockets All-Star Alperen Sengun.
The 23-year-old center finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Head coach Ergin Ataman built the offense around him from the first game.
With the national team, Sengun plays more in the low post and receives more isolation opportunities.
Around 34% of his possessions in preparation games came from post-ups, compared to 22% with the Rockets. His efficiency also improved, rising from 0.79 points per possession in the NBA to 0.93 in recent games.
Ataman has also used Sengun as a ballhandler in inverted pick-and-rolls. Guards like Shane Larkin set screens for him, allowing Sengun to create mismatches and attack. “Alpi has grown into an NBA All-Star, one of the best players in the NBA,” Larkin told BasketNews. “I think the sky’s the limit.”
Strong numbers for Sengun in EuroBasket preparation games
Alperen Sengun stood out in warm-up games before the tournament.
He scored 25 points in a win over Lithuania against NBA veteran Jonas Valanciunas. Across games against Montenegro, Lithuania and world champion Germany, he averaged more than 25 points on 63% shooting.
His Rockets teammate Kevin Durant also reacted on social media, praising Sengun’s offensive moves.
Türkiye’s victory over Latvia showed that the team is not dependent on one player.
Cedi Osman scored 20 points, while Shane Larkin added 15 points and six rebounds. With Adem Bona, Furkan Korkmaz and Omer Yurtseven also contributing, Türkiye has one of its strongest rosters in years.
The win improved the team’s chances of finishing among the top two in Group A. Serbia, with Nikola Jokic, remains the toughest opponent in the group.
Sengun’s rise has earned praise in both Europe and the United States.
Rockets general manager Rafael Stone compared his early career success to Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic, noting he was the MVP of the Turkish league at just 18 years old.
Larkin, who once played alongside Dirk Nowitzki, said Sengun is “probably the best center I’ve played with.”
Türkiye will face more difficult challenges in the coming rounds, and Sengun’s ability to perform against Jokic and other elite centers could define the team’s chances of winning its first EuroBasket medal since 2001.
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