Alperen Sengun joins idol Nikola Jokic on Team Chuck, 2025 NBA All-Star draft
Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets. (Collage by Mehmet Akbas/Türkiye Today)
LeBron James was selected as the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA All-Star Draft held on Thursday night, marking the start of the highly anticipated event. One of the standout moments was the selection of Türkiye’s Alperen Sengun, who joined Team Chuck, alongside MVP frontrunner Nikola Jokic.
Alperen’s inclusion highlights his rising star status in the NBA. In addition to Sengun and Jokic, Team Chuck features international talents like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama.
James, along with former teammate Anthony Davis, was chosen by Shaquille O’Neal for Team Shaq. The “Inside the NBA” crew on TNT finalized the selections for three of the four All-Star teams, with veteran stars such as Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Jayson Tatum rounding out Team Shaq’s roster.
Meanwhile, Kenny Smith’s team, Team Kenny, leans heavily on emerging talent, with stars like Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, and Jaren Jackson Jr. leading the way.
The three teams will compete in a mini-tournament alongside the winner of the Rising Stars competition, which features rookies and second-year players. WNBA legend Candace Parker will coach the Rising Stars team
Here are the full rosters:
Team Shaq: LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, James Harden, Jaylen Brown.
Team Chuck: Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, Pascal Siakam, Alperen Sengun, Karl-Anthony Towns.
Team Kenny: Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, Jaren Jackson Jr., Cade Cunningham, Darius Garland, Tyler Herro, Evan Mobley, Jalen Williams.
The NBA All-Star Game will take place on February 16 at the Chase Center in San Francisco. This year will introduce a new format, where four teams will compete in a three-game mini-tournament. Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault and Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson will lead the teams, each with an assistant coach from their respective teams.
Timberwolves defeat Rockets 127-114; Alperen Sengun posts double-double
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Houston Rockets 127-114 at home, extending the Rockets’ losing streak to five games.
Turkish national player Alperen Sengun, in his second game back from injury, posted a double-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals in 32 minutes of play. Jalen Green also contributed significantly, finishing with 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists for the Rockets.
For the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards was the star of the game, scoring 41 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and adding 6 assists. Jaylen Clark added 17 points, Mike Conley contributed 16 points, and Naz Reid recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Rudy Gobert chipped in with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
The Houston Rockets are currently in 3rd place in the Western Conference with a 32-19 record, while the Minnesota Timberwolves sit in 7th place with a 29-23 record.
