Alperen Şengün Addresses Ejection, Owns Up to “Immature” Outburst Toward Referee
In a league where emotions run high and the spotlight never dims, accountability matters - and on Saturday night, Alperen Şengün stepped up to take his.
The Rockets’ rising star center publicly apologized for his outburst during Wednesday’s loss to the Boston Celtics, when frustration boiled over in the fourth quarter and Şengün directed an explicit insult at referee Jenna Reneau after a no-call at the rim. Reneau didn’t hesitate - she tossed Şengün from the game on the spot. The moment quickly made the rounds on social media, drawing attention not just for the ejection, but for the language used.
Three days later, after helping power Houston to a 112-106 win over the Thunder in Oklahoma City - and notching his second triple-double of the season in the process - Şengün addressed the incident for the first time.
“It was just the heat of the moment, and I said some stuff I shouldn’t have said,” he said postgame. “I felt bad about it.
Right after the game, I went to [the referees’] locker room. I shook her hand and apologized to her.
That was immature by me. I should know better.”
There’s a level of maturity in recognizing when you’ve crossed a line, and Şengün didn’t shy away from that. He called the moment “immature” more than once, acknowledging that while emotions can run hot, it’s on him to keep them in check.
“Sometimes, you can’t control yourself, but I should have known better,” he added. “It just happened in the heat of the moment. Then, she understood, and it was good on both ends.”
It’s a moment of growth for the 21-year-old big man, who’s been turning heads this season not just with his numbers, but with his evolving leadership on a young Rockets squad. Against OKC, Şengün’s stat line - 17 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists - was another reminder of just how dynamic he’s become. He’s not just a low-post scorer or a glass-cleaner; he’s facilitating offense, reading the floor, and anchoring the team on both ends.
But Saturday wasn’t about the triple-double. It was about owning a mistake and making it right. And in a league that often magnifies the missteps, Şengün’s willingness to take responsibility - face-to-face with the official he disrespected, and again in front of the media - speaks volumes about his character.
He’s still young, still learning, and still developing into the player and leader the Rockets hope he can be. But this week, Şengün showed that growth doesn’t just come in the box score - sometimes, it shows up in the way you handle the tough moments.