On “Podcast P with Paul George,” the veteran Clippers star has often shown an affinity for rising star Alperen Sengun — now in his third NBA season as a center for the Houston Rockets.
In mid-November, Sengun and the Rockets were in Los Angeles for a game against George and the Clippers. While there, it appears Sengun stopped by George’s studio for an in-person chat.
On Monday, George dropped an hour-long podcast interview featuring a wide range insights from Sengun. From the episode description, presented by Wave Sports + Entertainment:
In this week’s episode, Alperen Şengün talks about his unique free-throw routine and the decision he made at age 18 to leave Turkey and join the NBA. Alperen also discussed how losing affected his mindset during his first two seasons in Houston.
He emphasized the positive impact that the first-year Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and teammate Dillon Brooks have had on the team’s overall mindset, since their arrival.
Finally, he shares his experience working out with Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon, his personal goals this season, and picks his GOAT [greatest of all-time] international player starting lineup.
Here’s our look at key takeaways and interview observations, which included several tidbits that were not previously known.
Alperen Sengun on his height
Alperen Sengun confirms he grew two inches since entering the NBA.
Sengun's original listed height was 6'9" and now it's 6'11".
"I didn't realize I grew until people told me I looked bigger." pic.twitter.com/4lmiAthVi0
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) November 27, 2023
Alperen Sengun’s all-time international lineup
Alperen Sengun's all-time international starting lineup:
PG: Luka
SG: Ginobili
SF: Turkoglu
PF: Giannis
C: Jokic— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) November 27, 2023
Alperen Sengun on 2021 draft night
Alperen Sengun had no idea the draft night trade to Houston was coming.
Sengun was originally expecting to go before 10th, but he knew the Rockets kept calling around about him.
“I didn’t want to go to OKC that much.” pic.twitter.com/8ZoAZVoKs4
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) November 27, 2023
No, I didn’t know (I was going to be traded), actually. It was like, everyone is talking about (the) draft who’s going to go this pick, this pick. I expected that I was going to go before 10. It was like Orlando, Sacramento, eight, nine.
We passed that and they said Washington, and Charlotte, were other teams … but I knew they (are) not going to pick me, because I did not work out with them. I didn’t even work out with Houston, actually. My agent was telling me all the time they calling me for you, they want to learn what you do, they calling everybody, you know? I was getting bored because I was getting nervous because they’re not gonna pick me, you know. I was going (to be a) high pick, I didn’t want that.
Actually, I didn’t want to go to OKC that much. How I can say … my OKC workout was, like, maybe somewhat my worst workout since coming here. It was really so hard. My agent was in my table saying you’re going to go to OKC, but they’re going to trade you to Houston. I don’t even know anything about Houston, because I didn’t even talk to them. But they were telling me (that) OKC is so boring, I hope you’re not going there.
When they told me you going to Houston, I was happy because there’s something to do over there, people said. I was lucky, a lot of Turkish people were there, too, which has helped me a lot.
Alperen Sengun on Jalen Green
"Even Jalen (Green) right now is playing great because Ime is in his mind. If he do bad things, Ime is talking shit to him…it wasn't like that before"
— Alperen Sengun
— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) November 27, 2023
Alperen Sengun on moving to the NBA
Alperen Sengun said everyone in his life was advising AGAINST a move to the NBA (including his own agency), but he wouldn’t listen.
“I was ready. I always knew I was going to the NBA one day.” pic.twitter.com/ZTTJEDNfm1
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) November 27, 2023
Alperen Sengun on Oklahoma City
Alperen Sengun says he didn't want to go to OKC because he heard it was boring, and he was happy when he found out he was traded from OKC to Houston.
The #Rockets had Sengun 6th on their 2021 draft board
— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) November 27, 2023
Alperen Sengun on his goals
Alperen Sengun when asked about being an All-Star this year:
“Before everything, we just want to win. I want to do best basketball for my teammates and my team, and if that comes with All-Star, it’ll be a gift next to it. Before all that, I want to be a winning team player.” pic.twitter.com/zgoqxEqR0k
— ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) November 27, 2023
Alperen Sengun on free-throw routine
Alperen Sengun finally reveals his free throw routine on @PodcastPShow:
Sengun apparently “talks nice” to the basketball so it goes in.
If he misses, he starts talking shit to the ball. pic.twitter.com/plRM7pR8DF
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) November 27, 2023
That routine started a couple of years ago. I was talking to [the ball] all the time… I’m not going to tell the world (what I say) … but I’m just talking to the ball, nicely, and spinning it like this. If it’s not getting in, I’m talking bad next time. I’m talking shit next time. … When I was playing in Turkey my last year, my free-throw percentage was like 85-86, something like that. I just didn’t want to change it. Right now, it’s not doing real well, like 65 or something, but I just don’t want to change it.
Alperen Sengun on relationship with Nikola Jokic
Alperen Sengun on his relationship with his idol, Nikola Jokic:
“After every game, he comes up to me saying “Good job, Al-P. Keep it up.” Always giving good talk.”#Rockets pic.twitter.com/ontR5HE3zG
— ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) November 27, 2023
You know, Jokic is not social media guy, he care about basketball and family. But he’s great guy and European. I can say all European bigs and other players so close to each other. … After the game, he’s coming up to me, saying ‘good job, great job, keep it up.’
All this great stuff, it’s great for me. I’m not, like, trying to play like him … but you know, our games are similar.
Alperen Sengun on working out with Hakeem Olajuwon
Alperen Sengun on working out with Hakeem Olajuwon:
“He’s like 59… 60… something like that. When we worked out, I was so impressed with how he’s moving like that still. That spin move he does still is faster than me.”#Rockets pic.twitter.com/Hc2BwmuoOr
— ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) November 27, 2023
Alperen Sengun, Paul George on Dillon Brooks
Paul George and Alperen Sengun talk about Dillon Brooks.
“Playing against him sucks…you never know what’s going to happen…if you are on the same team with him, he’s a great person” #Rockets pic.twitter.com/u8XRzsbXhA
— V̷a̷t̷o̷r̷ (@VatorSports) November 27, 2023
Alperen Sengun on former Rockets star James Harden
James Harden went up to Alperen Sengun during a game and told him he was proud of him.
Sengun: “It was a great moment. I’m never going to forget it.” pic.twitter.com/D1QBtSUhw4
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) November 27, 2023
Alperen Sengun on new coach Ime Udoka
Alperen Sengun on the Houston #Rockets new head coach Ime Udoka.
He later talks about how he felt like the accountability was selective in the past, but that under Ime, everyone is held accountable. pic.twitter.com/BT4DrlzynQ
— ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) November 27, 2023
He’s great, off the court and on the court. He’s not that old, you know, he’s young. He’s acting like a player still. I can see the biggest part is he’s so professional. On the court, he knows what we’re gonna do off the court, like having fun with us, laughing with us, doing everything.
He’s not going to lie to your face, which I like, because I grew up in Europe and… if you guys know, Europe is tough. Like I said, the biggest part right now is being professional. … He brings a lot of things. I can say he even brings happiness to us.
Alperen Sengun on learning English
Alperen Şengün just said Josh Christopher and Jalen Green were teaching him words he can’t say when he first got to Houston 😂
“Josh Christopher (@Jaygup23) was teaching me a lot of things he knows a lot of shitty words” 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/d7yQJk5oyf
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) November 27, 2023
Alperen Sengun focused on winning
Alperen Sengun is so humble and mature man. He just said he doesn’t care about becoming an all star and that winning is much more important.
Love this kid. I hope he’s a Houston Rocket forever.
— Mitty (@MittyRockets) November 27, 2023
Paul George on Alperen Sengun’s spin move
"I got crossed on the shimmy and I fouled you too."
That Sengun spin caught PG by surprise 😅 pic.twitter.com/myM6V3liyt
— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) November 25, 2023
Alperen Sengun on Rockets’ culture change
Biggest takeaways from Alperen Şengün’s on the @PodcastPShow:
– Houston’s new coaching staff enforcing accountability to everyone (and not selectively) has completely shifted the #Rockets culture.
– Love to see Şengün is focused on winning basketball games and not himself… pic.twitter.com/81DJ8Je5sE— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) November 27, 2023
KJ Martin welcomes Alperen Sengun to NBA
Alperen Şengün’s welcome to the NBA moment was KJ Martin dunking on him in practice:
“I asked my Turkish translator over there and was like did he dunk on me, and he was like yeah” 😂😂
(Via @PodcastPShow) pic.twitter.com/Ld56FkbsYm
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) November 27, 2023
After I got drafted, before summer league, we were working out with the team, and KJ dunked on me in practice. I used to get every shot in Turkey, I was the block leader… but I gave him space. I didn’t know who KJ was before I came into the NBA and I gave him space so I could jump with him, and he went too fast… and I was a little late, and he dunked on me. I didn’t even see it, I just fell.
Alperen Sengun on Houston’s transition to winning
“We’re having fun, it feels good.”
Alperen Şengün on the #Rockets finally being a winning team. pic.twitter.com/uRtg9BIDFS
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) November 27, 2023
