Alperen Sengun Shares Praise for Nikola Jokic After Thrilling EuroBasket Duel
Houston Rockets star Alperen Sengun had some strong words for Nikola Jokic following their epic showdown in the 2025 EuroBasket tournament. While NBA players were scattered across the globe this offseason, some European stars, including Jokic and Sengun, have been busy competing in EuroBasket.
In their final group stage matchup, Sengun’s Turkey team defeated Jokic’s Serbia 95-90, setting the stage for the elimination rounds. Despite Jokic’s impressive NBA resume—three MVPs and an NBA title—Sengun shone in this encounter, contributing 28 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists to lead his team to victory.
However, Sengun took a moment to acknowledge Jokic’s greatness, especially given the comparisons to the three-time MVP since he entered the league. “Jokic is one of the best players in the world. Rather, he’s the best recently. To play and get this win against him was really important for us. I had extra motivation for this game. So, we’re happy, and I’m pleased with my performance and the win,” Sengun said.
Jokic vs. Sengun in the NBA
While Sengun is quickly emerging as a promising talent in the NBA, he still has a ways to go to reach the level of Jokic, whose dominance is widely recognized. In the 10 games they’ve faced off in the NBA, Jokic has averaged 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 8.2 assists, with a 6-4 record over Sengun, according to StatMuse.
The two have yet to meet in the postseason, but with both the Nuggets and Rockets looking stronger this offseason, a high-stakes playoff matchup could be on the horizon as soon as next season. Sengun won’t be expected to shoulder the offensive load like Jokic, especially with the addition of NBA legend Kevin Durant to the Rockets’ roster.
As for EuroBasket, the only chance for another showdown would be if their teams make it to the final or the third-place game.
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