Alperen Sengun has enjoyed a breakout season in the 2023-24 season, and it cannot be denied that he has seen the massive difference on how basketball is played in the NBA and in Europe, claiming that there is a profound and unique way that both platforms engage in the sport at different levels.

Sengun has spent the last three seasons in the NBA with the Houston Rockets, where he has developed into a rising star in the game. So far, his observations have been quite detailed right from the coaching all the way to the different approaches that makes basketball an even more loveable game for a lot of players.

The Turkish big man has enjoyed a promising outing in his time in the Olympic qualifiers, which has made him learn about the way Europe takes on the game at a bigger level. This says a lot about how he is truly still on the development path of his game at this point, and that makes him more fun to watch as he seeks to come back stronger for the Rockets in the next season.

Comparing Two Brands of Basketball

Sengun spoke as to how basketball is different in the NBA and in Europe, and the big man specified how coaching itself is a whole new ordeal aside from playing the game. Under coach Zeljko Obradovic, Sengun was able to identify a lot of key points that makes basketball unique on both ends of the floor.

“Two different styles. In Europe, coaches are crazy. They shout and yell. In America, there is no such thing. Because the players in America are of very high quality, for example, LeBron’s coach or Curry’s coach cannot shout at them. The player would say, ‘Who are you?’ In the NBA, the players are stronger,” Sengun said.

He even claimed that it is harder to score in Europe than it is to drop points in the NBA, which is something that fellow European players such as Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic have claimed in their games in comparison to playing in their respective countries. Sengun backed the same claim that has been there over the years, and he even went on to stress the fact that American basketball offers more set plays compared to Europe, which leads to less free-flowing scoring.

Future with Houston

Sengun’s managers are currently working it out with the Houston Rockets’ management with a new deal with the hopes of getting him to stay with the team for the next year albeit with a bigger salary. The 16th pick of the 2021 NBA Draft is expected to stay with the team after a promising season cut short by his injuries late in the 2023-24 season.

“We are waiting. My managers are negotiating with them. I don’t become a free agent next year. This year, teams can’t make offers to me,” said Sengun about his future with Houston. “Next year, other teams can make offers. They can offer a maximum of four-year contracts, but my team, Houston, can offer me a five-year contract. Next year, I could get four-year offers worth $180 million, $200 million. Those will be the prices. This year, Houston doesn’t have to sign with me, but if they don’t, those offers will come next year.”

In the 2023-24 season, Sengun upped his stats at a high level in 63 games, averaging 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game while also shooting 53.7% from the field. Many have compared his game to the modern flexible centers in the game such as Nikola Jokic and Domantas Sabonis, who arguably have the same playstyle at this point.