Alperen Sengun breaks NBA record as youngest center to reach 900 assists
Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball during the game against the Sacramento Kings during the Emirates NBA Cup game on December 3, 2024 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, (AFP Photo)
Houston Rockets’ Turkish star Alperen Sengun continues to leave his mark in the NBA. In a strong performance against the Sacramento Kings, Sengun tallied 24 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists.
With this game, he became the youngest center in NBA history to surpass 900 career assists at just 22 years and 131 days old, breaking the previous record set by Denver Nuggets’ three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who achieved the milestone at 23 years and 18 days.
Game recap: Sacramento Kings 120-111 Houston Rockets
The Sacramento Kings claimed a 120-111 victory over the Houston Rockets at the Golden 1 Center. A dominant third quarter proved decisive, as Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox led the Kings to a commanding lead.
Top performers for the Kings:
- Domantas Sabonis: 27 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists
- De’Aaron Fox: 22 points, 7 assists
- Malik Monk: 17 points, 12 assists
- DeMar DeRozan: 16 points
Notable contributions for Rockets:
- Jalen Green: 28 points, 7 rebounds
- Alperen Sengun: 24 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists
- Tari Eason: 16 points, 12 rebounds, 3 steals
- Fred VanVleet: 13 points
While Sengun’s outstanding performance stood out, it wasn’t enough to secure a win, leaving the Rockets with a 15-7 season record.
Late-game drama: Alperen Sengun, coach Udoka ejected
The game took a contentious turn in the closing minutes when tensions flared, resulting in the ejections of Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and Sengun.
The incident disrupted the Rockets’ momentum during their comeback attempt.
A record-breaking season for Sengun
This milestone is another highlight in an already remarkable season for Sengun. Just last week, he was named Western Conference Player of the Week, a rare accolade for a 22-year-old center.
Sengun’s record-breaking performances and growing influence on the court continue to garner international attention, making him a source of pride for the Rockets, basketball fans in Türkiye, and his expanding global fan base.
As he rises among the NBA’s top young talents, his future looks increasingly bright.
