Alperen Sengun is about to get the first real shot at setting the tone for the Houston Rockets’ 2026-27 season.
Houston opens on October 23rd in Austin, Texas, against the San Antonio Spurs, and that matchup puts Sengun right in the middle of one of the league’s most intriguing center battles with Victor Wembanyama. For a Rockets team that spent much of last season hearing criticism, it’s a clean chance to answer back early.
Sengun has given off the kind of energy that suggests he wants to make that statement. Against a Spurs team many see as ready to make another push, he’ll have the spotlight from the jump. Wembanyama, coming off a disappointing showing in last year’s NBA Finals, will also be looking to start strong and set the tone for what San Antonio hopes becomes another Finals run.
The numbers from last season show Sengun held his own. In four games against the Spurs, he averaged 19.8 points, 6.8 assists, and 9.3 rebounds.
That’s solid production against a defender like Wembanyama. Houston, though, only went 1-3 in those meetings, and one of those losses came on March 8th in a game where the Rockets allowed 145 points.
There’s reason to believe Sengun can change the conversation this season. He has improved every year, earned his second straight All-Star nod, and helped Turkey win a silver medal at the 2025 EuroBasket tournament. He’s still young, but he’s already shown the kind of traits teams want from a leader.
What Houston needs now is cleaner scoring and stronger defense from him. If he delivers there, the Rockets should look sharper overall, and Sengun can push himself back into the discussion among the NBA’s best young centers alongside Wembanyama.
Of course, this won’t be about Sengun alone. Houston will need help across the roster, and the arrival of Marcus Smart could matter if he can help slow down players like Stephon Castle and/or Dylan Harper.
That kind of support would ease the pressure on the rest of the young group to carry the load on opening night. Only time will tell.
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Through the opening stretch of the 2025-26 season, Houston has had to sort out what Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun and Reed Sheppard actually look like together, and the early answer has not been encouraging on one end of the floor. The Rockets brought enough talent into the mix to think the trio could form part of a dangerous core, but the fit has forced Ime Udoka into some uncomfortable lineup decisions, especially when the games get tighter and the defensive assignments get more demanding.
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Spurs Bring Extra Opening Week Buzz To Austin With One Familiar Star
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For Houston, the trip adds another layer because Kevin Durant is back in familiar territory. Durant spent his lone college season at Texas before becoming one of the leagues defining stars, so a nationally visible road game in Austin gives the matchup a built-in buzz beyond the usual early-season intrigue. The Spurs have found a way to make these Central Texas dates feel like events, and this one already has the makings of a showcase night. [Read more 🡒]