In a Turkish interview, All-Star center Alperen Sengun spoke with Socrates Dergi regarding the 2025-26 Rockets and his offseason points of emphasis.
Alperen Şengün on his areas of focus this offseason:
“As you know, I sort of lost my touch this season. I focused on this a lot, my shots and finishing. Of course my conditioning as well – this helped me a lot last season in my defense and ability to play longer minutes. And… https://t.co/VKZmIp2gHU pic.twitter.com/y8txk7a3wU
— Franchise Sengun (@FranchiseSengun) August 17, 2025
In a Turkish interview published Sunday, reporters with Socrates Dergi spoke with Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun ahead of the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 competition.
Now 23 years old, Sengun earned his first career NBA All-Star honors last season, and he’s expected to have a key role on a Houston squad that enters 2025-26 with championship aspirations.
“The Turkish superstar first talks about All-Star weekend, his ongoing relationship with Fred VanVleet on and off the court, and Jalen Green’s departure,” Socrates Dergi writes in its summary.
“Afterwards, he also shares his thoughts on Kevin Durant joining the team; the playoff series against Golden State Warriors; gaining playoff experience as a team; how the Rockets keep growing (their) physicality and its main figure, Amen Thompson; and Ime Udoka’s coaching philosophy.”
While spoken in Turkish, the interview contains English subtitles. Courtesy of @FranchiseSengun on X, here’s a roundup of what Sengun had to say regarding the above topics and more.
Sengun on Areas of Offseason Focus
As you know, I sort of lost my touch this season. I focused on this a lot, my shots and finishing. Of course, my conditioning, as well. This helped me a lot last season in my defense and ability to play longer minutes. And finally, my shooting.
Sengun on ‘Double Big’ Lineups
When Ime Udoka introduced the double big lineup, it made my job a lot easier. Having to constantly be physical with the opposing center on defense, and then switching to offense, became very tiring. [With the double big] my performance increased, and I had more energy on both ends.
Sengun on Relationship with Fred VanVleet
Fred has been an incredible leader since he first joined the team. He does a lot you don’t see on the court. Controlling and leading the team is not easy, and he also does this when he’s not playing.
In my opinion, there is not a single point guard like Fred in the league. Nowadays, point guards are focused on getting their shots. Fred is not like that. He sees the potential in me. Fred [and Ime] get mad and argue with me time to time, but it doesn’t last long. He’s always in my ear.
Sengun on the Jalen Green Trade
Of course it was upsetting — Jalen was like my brother. Jalen comes off as a very cool kid, of course. But when you get to know him, he’s super kind, he’s always helpful. Some players, they try to act ‘cool’ around their teammates, but Jalen wasn’t like that.
I think Jalen is going to be a big player. I told him, ‘I hope this makes you more motivated.’ Sometimes he battles with himself, I think he will become more mature and no longer do this.
Sengun on Kevin Durant
I reached out to Kevin and told him I’m excited to work together. He said, ‘We’re going to have fun and do a lot of great things.’
Last season I told him one game, ‘Don’t come to double me, let me play one one one.’ He said, ‘No way, you’re an All-Star now. You’re no longer going to play one-on-one. Get used to it.’
Sengun on Steven Adams
The day he (was traded for), I directly called Ime Udoka and Rafael Stone and told them, ‘Normally, when a team signs a center of Steven Adams quality as a backup, they wouldn’t be happy.’ But I was extremely happy.
Steven’s main focus is for us to get better. For example, he sometimes lets me get shots off to raise my confidence. He doesn’t care about losing [in practice]. He’s a great veteran.
I’m sure he does, but I’ve never seen Steven Adams lift weights. He has his own unique workouts. He spends a lot of time stretching
There was one workout where my only job was to box him out. I bear hugged him so he can’t get the rebound, he lifted his arms, and I thought my shoulders were going to pop off.
Sengun on 2025 Playoffs
The Warriors were probably the one team that would have gave us the most trouble, and we drew them.
They’re a very experienced team, and they fouled a lot. In the playoffs, they don’t call it. But they were the ones crying all series about fouls not being called.
When it comes to us, we’re not really allowed to complain. It’s more of an internal thing. Ime Udoka doesn’t allow it. He loses his mind if we complain.
Sengun on Playing Against Draymond Green
Never in my life has something like this scared me. If anything, it makes me angry.
Sengun on Amen Thompson
Amen is an incredible athlete. There is seriously nothing else like this
Amen is very hardworking. As you know, in the NBA there is other things like ‘fit’ [clothing] culture. Amen is strictly basketball. He works hard in practice, takes his recovery seriously
He makes the most of his God-given athleticism.
Sengun on Thompson’s Injury
There was one game, Amen needed an an assist or something to get his trouble-double. Normally, Ime Udoka doesn’t leave you in the game if there is a big score difference. There were countless times he didn’t put me back in the game when I was close.
But that game, Udoka let him play, and Amen twisted his ankle. After that I joked saying ‘Amen, you ruined it for all of us. Now Udoka will never let me continue to play [to get a triple double].’
Sengun on 2025-26 Season
There will be a lot of pressure this year, but I think the entire team has the strength to handle it.
We are now like soldiers — Ime and his soldiers. I think everyone is extremely focused and working hard.
I hope we will live this excitement, and will allow others to feel the same excitement.
Sengun on the Western Conference
The West is dangerous. You can say there is no bad team. But this is also good for us… it will get us ready for the playoffs. You play more focused against better teams.
Sengun on All-Star Honors
It was great being with the other stars, to get to know them. It was upsetting not to be selected for All-NBA. This was one of my goals. But these sort of things motivate me.
So this season, my goal will be to be All-NBA and become a champion. Even if I don’t become All-NBA, as long as the team is successful [that is what matters].
Sengun on Winning a Title in Houston
The complete interview can be viewed below (Turkish with English subtitles).