Houston Rockets center Alperen Şengün achieved a long-held goal Thursday when he was named an NBA All-Star for the first time in his career. Şengün was announced as one of the Western Conference reserves chosen by NBA head coaches to compete in the 2025 All-Star Game on Feb.

Alperen Şengün joined the Houston Rockets at the depths of their post-Harden rebuild in the 2021 NBA draft. The 22-year-old center is now an All-Star as Houston rises up the NBA hierarchy. Şengün’s been reaching new heights this season 🚀 Alperen Şengün is an #NBAAllStar! pic.twitter.com/GfTkVUlnKv

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun was selected as a reserve for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, notching the first All-Star Game appearance in his young career.

The Houston Rockets (32-14) go for a season sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies (31-16) on Thursday night in a nationally televised game at FedEx Forum, the fourth and final game in the regular-season series between the Western Conference rivals.

Nearing real stardom, Şengün reflects on Rockets' belief in him: "Whoever trusts me, or backs me up, I will take care of them all my life."

Rockets star Alperen Sengun earned the first NBA All-Star selection of his career, only needing one word to react to the news.

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun was selected as an All-Star reserve tonight on the NBA on TNT pregame show. Sengun, at 21 years old, joins seven other players on the Western Conference All-Star bench,