Alperen Sengun has taken the league by surprise ever since his rookie season. His passing skills and scoring finesse inside the paint have drawn Nikola Jokic comparisons ever since he came into the league. After the Houston Rockets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves to clinch a spot in the next round of the NBA Cup, Kendrick Perkins felt the same way. He took to X (formerly known as Twitter) and expressed how Alperen Sengun has solidified himself in the league, and his growth trajectory looks like Nikola Jokic. Therefore, he crowned Sengun as “baby Jokic.”
Imma start calling Sengun baby Jokic. That young man is problem!!!
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) November 27, 2024
Ex-NBA Champ Compares Rockets Young Star Alperen Sengun to Nikola Jokic
Alperen Sengun finished the game against Minnesota with a 20-point triple-double. This was his third triple-double of the season, recording seven for his whole career. He was the youngest center to record a triple-double (until Victor Wembanyama was drafted) and now is repeating a similar feat.
Sengun is the youngest center in NBA history to record seven triple-doubles in their career. In comparison, Jokic was also 22 years old when he recorded his seventh triple-double. So this record has been decided now by a difference of days. Jokic was almost a month away from turning 23 when he accomplished this feat against the Golden State Warriors. Whereas Sengun turned 22 only in July. So, the career path similarity is visible clearly.
Alperen Sengun does a little of everything as the @HoustonRockets clinch West Group A! 🏆
🚀 22 PTS
🚀 10 REB
🚀 11 AST
🚀 3 STL
🚀 3 BLKHouston moves to 3-0 in the #EmiratesNBACup and 13-6 on the season 👏 pic.twitter.com/Azyya8bp9C
— NBA (@NBA) November 27, 2024
Did Jokic Inspire Sengun?
In January 2024, Sengun was asked what he felt about these comparisons with Jokic. His response gave the right amount of respect to Jokic but also made a statement of his own.
He said, “No,” when asked if the comparison bothered him. But he further added, “Not for now. You know, I’m still young, but after some point, yeah.”
.@alperennsengun talks about being called “Baby Jokić” and going up against top bigs like Embiid and Sabonis.
Full episode with @jj_redick drops 1/26: https://t.co/4OVLbWJYoC pic.twitter.com/oBjJKbdvIC
— TheYoungManAndTheThree (@OldManAndThree) January 25, 2024
Sengun felt happy that he was being compared to greats like Jokic, especially so early in his career. But once he is in his prime, he would like to make a name of his own. Now that Perkins is making the same comparison, Sengun may not be fazed by it. After all, the three-time NBA MVP now has 155 triple-doubles for his career. So, this comparison at a young age should fuel and motivate Alperen Sengun to continue on this path.
The Rockets needed a solid center when Alperen Sengun was drafted. Now, Sengun is on the trajectory of becoming Houston’s franchise player. Do you think he has what it takes to replicate what Nikola Jokic has done in Denver? While Sengun may not have the same skills as Jokic from beyond the three-point line, Sengun is certainly capable of developing those over time.
