Alperen Sengun’s limited NBA All-Star minutes raise fairness concerns
Alperen Sengun of Houston Rockets for Chuck's Global Stars (Red Team) warms up during 2025 NBA All-Star night at Chase Center in San Francisco, California, United States on Feb. 16, 2025. (AA Photo)
Houston Rockets’ Alperen Sengun made his NBA All-Star debut in San Francisco at the Chase Center, becoming the second Turkish player in history to participate in the prestigious event after Mehmet Okur in 2007.
Despite being part of the new four-team tournament format, Sengun’s playing time in the final game raised concerns about fairness and player distribution in the event.
Alperen Sengun had limited court time despite impactful semifinal performance
Sengun played for Chuck’s Global Stars, the team managed by NBA legend Charles Barkley.
- In the semifinal, his team defeated Kenny’s Young Stars 41-32, securing a spot in the final
- Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun made the most of his limited minutes, scoring 4 points on 2-for-2 shooting and grabbing 1 rebound
- However, in the championship game against Shaq’s OGs, Sengun was on the court for approximately one minute
- Shaquille O’Neal’s team dominated the final, winning 41-25
His limited time in the final led to discussions about player rotations in the new All-Star format.
Why did Alperen Sengun receive such little playing time in final?
The new All-Star format, introduced this year, featured a race-to-40 system where the first team to reach 40 points won the game.
The structure, which aimed to make the event more engaging, left less room for equal playing time. Sengun acknowledged the nature of the format but hinted that more time for all players would have been beneficial.
“I was accepting that. It’s a short game, 40-point game, and (in a) tight game you need stops,” Sengun said. “Everybody could have played more. Because two years ago, we had the same thing. We just came here at night. We were here for 20 minutes, and then we left.”
His comments reflect a broader concern about player participation in an event meant to bring together top talent from around the league.
Shaq’s OGs dominated final as Jayson Tatum led charge
The final game saw Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum take control, scoring 15 of his team’s 41 points to secure the win. Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, Milwaukee Bucks’ Damian Lillard, and Los Angeles Clippers’ James Harden were also instrumental in the victory.
Shaq’s OGs had an experienced roster, featuring stars like Kevin Durant and LeBron James, which made it difficult for Barkley’s squad to keep up. Sengun’s team, which included international stars like Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Pascal Siakam, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, struggled to generate enough offense.
Alperen Sengun’s All-Star debut a milestone but frustrating lingers due to limited minutes
Despite the limited time on the court, Sengun’s presence in the All-Star event marked an important milestone in his career. He had strong support in the fan voting process, ranking sixth among frontcourt players in the Western Conference.
While he appreciated the experience, the game’s format and the uneven distribution of minutes left room for debate. Some fans and analysts questioned whether the limited playing time given to younger stars like Sengun was fair in an event designed to feature both emerging and established talent.
