Alperen Şengün is currently trending because of his outstanding performance in the recent opening game of the NBA season for his team, the Houston Rockets.

He is a young Turkish professional basketball player who plays as a center for the Houston Rockets and also represents the Turkish national team. He has been gaining attention for his unique skills and playmaking abilities.

The main reason for his trending status is a historic game he played on October 22, 2025. In a double-overtime loss, Şengün delivered a dominant performance, scoring a career-high 39 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and dishing out 7 assists. Notably, he also made a career-high five three-pointers, showing significant improvement in his outside shooting, which he worked on during the summer. This stat line was a historic first for an NBA opening night, further highlighting his exceptional play.

His strong start to the NBA season follows a breakout summer where he was a star at the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 tournament, showcasing his potential. Many consider him to be the "backbone" of the Rockets' offense and anticipate that he will have an MVP-caliber season. He was also recently named an NBA All-Star for the first time in 2025.