When normal people are frustrated, they try to find positive outlets for their emotions. When (let's call them) not normal people are frustrated, they lash out like petulant children. Guess which one Alperen Sengun showed himself to be in the waning moments of San Antonio's win over the Houston Rockets on Friday night.
I don't know how I missed this last night. I liked Sengun in his draft class but this is some sore loser shit. pic.twitter.com/8sGYTmfhHK
— Ty Jäger (@TheTyJager) November 8, 2025
While annoying, it's not a complete surprise to see this kind of behavior coming from that side of I-10. They're used to rostering players who cross the line more than a false-starting track runner. There's a reason why they've had guys like Dillon Brooks and Patrick Beverley in their uniform over the years. They like that kind of thing, but Spurs fans shouldn't be upset for two reasons.
The first is because Victor Wembanyama is just fine. He's getting ready to whack the Pelicans as I'm typing this out. The second reason is because of what it signified. It was the beginning of the end for the Rockets' title chances before they really got off the ground.
The Spurs have already passed the Rockets
It didn't take long either, did it? The Silver and Black put belt to rear at the Frost Bank Center in their first Emirates NBA Cup game, and they didn't like that. This team was the number two seed last season, and they added Kevin Durant, so their expectations are to compete for a title. Right now, they aren't competing for the best team in Texas. They're set comfortably at second, and that's where they'll stay.
If Luka Doncic were still in Dallas, the Rockets would possibly have to settle for third, but they were gifted a "brilliant" Nico Harrison trade of Luka Doncic. The Mavericks are just trying to avoid being the worst team ever right now. It's been tough for them, and I hope it continues. Spurs Nation wants only the worst for their fellow Texas rivals.
Sports rivalries are fun, but there is also a genuine disdain between Spurs fans and Rockets fans. But that's mostly where the equality ends. The Rockets haven't been relevant since their James Harden days, and that's just because of how much he scored, but even he rubbed basketball lovers everywhere the wrong way.
Harden played an unethical brand of basketaball; hunting fouls and manipulating the refs every opportunity he had. Don't get me wrong, he had his moments as a natural scoere, but his skill level is what made his choice to play that way so aggravating.
Whenever the Rockets can piss off just about anyone they can, they relish in it. That's all they have, though. They just watched the Spurs go from one of the worst teams in the league to one of the best in just a few seasons. Not to mention, Sengun has been blocked by Wemby 11 times. That's tied for the second-most against one player with Nikola Jokic. That's gotta hurt.