Alperen Sengun and former Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green entered the NBA together after both being drafted in the 2021 draft. Green getting taken at the No. 2 spot, and Sengun later in the first round at No. 16.
The two players helped transform the Rockets from four straight playoff misses between 2021 and 2024 into the Western Conference's No. 2 seed in 2025. Since being drafted, both Green and Sengun played pivotal roles in Houston's year-by-year improvement.
Sengun and Green will no longer be teammates for the first time in their young NBA careers after the Rockets agreed to a trade with the Phoenix Suns. The record-setting seven-team trade included Houston getting Durant in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft (Khaman Maluach), and five second-round picks.
Alperen Sengun reflects on Jalen Green getting traded to the Suns
It will take a lot of adjusting for Alperen Sengun to play in his first year with the Rockets without Jalen Green with him in the starting lineup. In an interview with Socrates, Sengun commented on the trade.
"Of course, it was tough. Jalen was like a brother to me. We learned the NBA together. We made it into the playoffs together, we came up from the bottom together," Sengun said. "I was very sad, but at the same time, Kevin Durant is coming... I called Jalen right away and told him how I felt. I hope this trade motivates you even more because I believe Jalen is going to be a really great player."
Heading into the 2025-26 season, Houston's starting five will consist of players like Fred VanVleet, Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, and Alperen Sengun. The Rockets will try to improve from their first-round playoff exit from last season.