Super star Alperen

Irem ILYAS

The National Basketball Team won its final EuroBasket 2025 Group A match last night against Serbia , 95-90. The National Team, which finished undefeated in the group with five-for-five shots, undoubtedly had the most notable player on the team: Alperen Şengün, who plays for the Houston Rockets in the NBA and was also named to this season's All-Star team.

Alperen was undoubtedly the hero of the match, remaining unfazed by Jokic, considered the world's best player, and even leaving him helpless at times. The fans' post-match comments on social media, which could be summarized as "Having a superstar is a wonderful luxury," demonstrated Alperen's significant contribution.

Alperen finished the game with 28 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists, coming off another near-triple-double, and the stadium erupted with chants of "MVP" by the end. Throughout the group stage, Alperen averaged 21.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 6.8 assists. He also became the first player in over 30 years to surpass 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in three consecutive EuroBasket games. All these individual statistics propelled not only Alperen but also his national team to the top. The victory over tournament favorites Serbia was a prime example of this.

Alperen Şengün also stood out with his playmaking and defensive energy. Directing play on the pitch, creating chances for his teammates, and taking responsibility when necessary, Şengün played a key role in Türkiye's advancement to the top of the group. An Alperen who takes responsibility both offensively and defensively, maintaining his rhythm, could propel Türkiye back to the top of Europe after years of success.

Facing Jokic always holds a special meaning for Alperen. Nicknamed "Baby Jokic" in the NBA due to their similar playing styles, Alperen considers Jokic his idol. In a 2022 interview, Alperen also stated that he takes Jokic as his role model, saying, "Jokic is my idol. I learned court vision from him. I practice this in practice, too. I also watch how he makes his team play."

After playing against Jokic in 2023, where the Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets, Alperen Şengün said he did his best against Jokic, saying, "He's my idol. It doesn't matter when you're playing against him. Winning against him and his team was important for us."

After the same match, Jokic also heaped praise on Alperen, saying, "It's good that Houston is playing through Alperen. He can be beneficial to the whole team because he's unselfish. When Alperen has the ball, the whole team is active. He played really well against us."

After the previous day's match, Alperen reiterated his respect for Jokic, saying, "Jokic is one of the best players in the world. In fact, he's the best in recent times. It was really important for us to play against him and get a win. I had extra motivation for this match, too."

A post on the FIBA ​​EuroBasket account after the game also touched on this rivalry. The post, referencing Alperen Şengün's nickname "Baby Jokic," included the following statement: "Call him Baba Şengün, not Baby Jokic."