After a five-year absence from the postseason, the Houston Rockets have clawed their way back into playoff contention, determined to go beyond their brief appearance in the 2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google, where they suffered a first-round exit to the Golden State Warriors.
The team’s summer acquisition of 37-year-old Kevin Durant sent a clear message across the league: Houston is serious about contending.
Speaking to the media after Monday’s practice, Alperen Sengun reflected on Durant’s recent contract extension and what it signifies for the team’s mindset.
“We see how bad he wants to play, how bad he wants to win. I saw he got the pay cut, too. That’s important,” Sengun explained, noting Durant’s willingness to sacrifice financially for team success.
“We already know how much he cares about this team, how much he helps everybody. Just happy to see that. I’m not going to say anything about money; he has millions of dollars now. Still, congrats to him.”
The 23-year-old center, who has quickly become one of the franchise’s cornerstones, praised Durant’s competitive energy and veteran leadership.
“We were already a good team, but with Kevin, we are such a better team now,” he continued. “He came here ready. He came hungry, like how we all are over here.”
Before turning his full attention back to Houston, Sengun represented Turkiye at EuroBasket 2025, where he delivered standout performances, averaging 21.6 points per game to lead his country to a silver medal and a place on the All-Star Five.
The experience, he said, helped prepare him for the grind of another NBA season.
“That was kind of a workout for here,” Sengun noted about his time with the national team. “I’m really excited to start this, looking forward.”
The Rockets will immediately be tested to open the 2025–26 NBA season, facing the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on Tuesday – a fitting early measure of how far Houston has come and how much further they can go with Durant now in red.
🇹🇷 Alperen Sengun joins forces with Kevin Durant
🗣️ “He came here ready. He came hungry, like how we all are over here”https://t.co/l78K5HsLoc
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) October 21, 2025
