Rockets fans need to keep an eye on Alperen Sengun's international play

Houston Rockets fans can't wait to watch Alperen Sengun in 2025-26. Luckily, they don't have to - Sengun is preparing to represent Turkey in the upcoming EuroBasket tournament.

Astute fans know he's already played. Granted, those were friendly games. Sengun saw limited playing time as his team warmed up. It seems Turkey's coaching staff used the exhibition games to find minutes for some of their less seasoned talent.

In their last game, they changed gears. Sengun had a game-high 25 points in Turkey's win over Lithuania. He looked like the star player Rockets fans have grown accustomed to.

What does it mean?

Rockets' Alperen Sengun thrives against any competition

Sengun dropped 25 on Lithuania. If you didn't know, their starting center is Jonas Valanciunas.

On a related note, Valanciunas is an NBA player.

Granted, he's not well-regarded as a defender. The broader point is that Sengun is playing against NBA competition. Moreover, these guys are motivated to represent their countries. These games count.

They're not the same as NBA games, but they're worth watching. Let's re-emphasize that: They're worth watching.

Keeping track of the box scores will have minimal utility. Sengun is Turkey's best player - count on him to get buckets. It's worth keeping an eye on his field goal percentage, but to get any value as a Rockets fan, you'll want to know how the buckets are coming:

What should Rockets fans be looking for?

Rockets fans should enjoy Alperen Sengun's international play

Don't necessarily look for three-pointers.

Turkey will treat Sengun differently from the Rockets. They're not thinking about his long-term development. They want to win a tournament, so they'll likely deploy Sengun where he's at his best - by the basket.

That's still noteworthy if you're a Rockets fan. Sengun's touch around the rim didn't keep it's typical standard in 2024-25. It's worth watching EuroBasket to see if he regains his form on bunnies.

It's also worth noting how Turkey deploys him defensively. Will they put Sengun in a zone defense without defenders like Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, and Dillon Brooks around him? Or, will they need Sengun to play drop coverage? If they do, will he succeed?

Here's one more reason to watch Turkey in EuroBasket - it will be fun. The team is stacked with both former and current NBAers like Adem Bona, Furkan Korkmaz, Cedi Osman, Shane Larkin, and Omer Yurtseven. This is a talented team. Who knows? Rockets fans might get to watch Sengun win it all:

Hopefully, that'll be a sign of what's to come.