Alperen Sengun All-Star: Rockets Center Selected

Alperen Sengun to Replace Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on NBA All-Star Team world roster

A rising star in the NBA, Houston Rockets centre Alperen Sengun, has been named to replace injured Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the Team World roster for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game. The declaration,made on February 8,2026,by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver,solidifies Sengun’s position as one of the league’s premier international talents.

Sengun Earns Second All-Star Nod

This marks Alperen Sengun‘s second consecutive selection to the NBA All-Star Game, following his debut appearance last season.The 6-foot-11 center, originally from Turkey, has been a dominant force for the Rockets, currently boasting a record of 32-19, tied for fourth place in the competitive Western Conference.

Did you know? – Alperen Sengun is only the second Turkish player to be selected as an All-Star multiple times. Hedo Turkoglu was the first,earning selections in 2005,2007,and 2008.

Notable Season Statistics

In his fifth NBA season, Sengun is averaging an impressive 20.8 points, 9.4 rebounds,and a career-high 6.3 assists across 44 games played. He currently ranks 30th in the NBA in scoring, a remarkable 10th in rebounding, and 16th in assists per game. Moreover, Sengun is showcasing improved defensive prowess, recording career bests of 1.41 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.

Elite Company

Sengun joins an exclusive group of players this season averaging at least 20.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists. He is one of only three players to achieve this feat, alongside fellow 2026 All-Stars Jalen Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks and Nikola Jokić of the denver Nuggets.

Gilgeous-Alexander Sidelined wiht injury

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s absence from the All-Star Game is due to an abdominal strain. the eight-year veteran from Canada was a voted starter and is making his fourth consecutive All-Star appearance.

Pro tip – Abdominal strains in basketball players often occur due to the explosive movements required for shooting, passing, and defending. Proper core strengthening and warm-up routines are crucial for prevention.

New All-Star Game Format

The 75th NBA all-Star Game, scheduled for Sunday, feb. 15 at 5 p.m. ET at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, will air on NBC and Peacock. This year’s game will feature a new format, with two teams of U.S. players – USA Stars and USA Stripes – competing against a team of international players, Team World, in a round-robin mini-tournament consisting of four 12-minute games.

Full team rosters are available here.

Reader question – Do you think the new All-Star Game format will make the game more competitive and engaging for fans? Share your thoughts!

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