Alperen Sengun's Historic Opening Night Performance
Oct 24, 2025
The Houston Rockets are among the favorites to compete for the NBA title this season, and on opening night of the 2025–26 schedule, Alperen Şengün did his part to live up to expectations. In one of the best opening-night games in league history, the Rockets' center had a historic performance.
On a night in which the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrated their first championship with the traditional ring and banner ceremony in front of a raucous crowd at the Paycom Center, Şengün did his best to upset the party. In a dominant display that had the scoreboard favoring the Rockets throughout the first half and late into the fourth quarter, Şengün's stat line entered the history books.
While the Thunder walked away with a 125–124 double-overtime victory, Şengün's 39 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists with a career-high five three-pointers was a first for any player in NBA history on opening night. As the night progressed, it was clear that the Turkish big man had evolved into one of the league's best young players. In a game featuring future Hall-of-Fame forward Kevin Durant and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, it was Şengün's performance that had many fans talking at the end of the night.
On a night in which he shot 50% from the field and 5-for-8 from downtown, Şengün also became the first center in league history to finish with at least 25 points, five boards, and five dimes in a season opener.
As part of the Rockets' new-look BIG 5, in which all members of the starting unit stand at least 6’10”, Şengün's ability to step out and hit the three-point shot with consistency this season is important. After hitting just 23.3% last season, averaging just 1.2 per game, his willingness to let fly will certainly help spread the floor offensively for the Rockets, as fellow starters Steven Adams and Amen Thompson aren’t exactly long-range threats.
If opening night was any indication of what’s to come, Şengün's evolution as an offensive weapon could be the difference-maker for the Rockets late into the season.
