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The Houston Rockets’ season ended on Friday night with a 98-78 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of their Western Conference first-round series at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The defeat sealed Houston’s exit after a series defined by inconsistency and late offensive struggles.
Alperen Sengun immediately addressed the emotional tone inside the locker room after the elimination. “Nobody was ready to be finished. Honestly, it hurts, of course,” he said. “But be proud of each other. I’m proud of them. I love them.”
The Rockets center emphasized unity despite the outcome. “We fight until the end. People gave up on us but we didn’t. I’m proud of them. We fight until the end,” Sengun added. “At the end of the day, we win together, we lose together, we stay together.”
Sengun also pointed to the group’s immediate mindset shift toward development. “Got to learn a lot. There’s a big summer coming for us,” he said. “Whatever happens, we got to stay together and come back stronger next season.”
The 2025-26 campaign ended with Houston showing growth, but not enough to extend its playoff run beyond the first round. Sengun acknowledged the disappointment while stressing long-term progression.
“It really hurts going home in May. That wasn’t the goal beginning of the season this year,” he said. “But it is what it is. Got to lock in as soon as the season ends.”
On his own development, Sengun highlighted both responsibility and consistency. “Just get better every year,” he said. “We’re still growing up. A lot of young guys out here. I’m young too. Got to work hard and come back stronger.”
He also reflected on leadership growth within a young roster. “Yeah, of course. Year to year, learn a lot of things,” Sengun said. “Being the longest on this team, just happy what I’ve done, but I can be better always.”
Houston’s late-season adversity, including injuries and rotation changes, remained part of the context, but Sengun avoided excuses. “You cannot do anything about those things. Whoever is on the court, we fight with them,” he said.
Looking ahead, Sengun made the offseason message direct. “Just work hard and hard and hard, be a better leader,” he said. “I expect the same thing from my teammates too.”
He also addressed roster uncertainty and external conversations around change. “I cannot do anything about those conversations,” Sengun said. “Wherever I go or wherever I’m staying, I’m just going to stay with it.”
