Alperen Sengun’s coach, Dorde Sijan, explains how the Houston All-Star differs from Nikola Jokic. While Sengun is often called “Baby Jokic” for his size, Sijan says he has a unique game, especially with his disciplined training and evolving three-point shot.
Turkey National Team center Alperen Sengun is one of the NBA’s brightest young stars, earning comparisons to Serbia superstar Nikola Jokic.
Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic
Position: C
Age: 30
Height: 208 cm
Weight: 111 kg
Birth place: Sombor, Serbia
But according to his longtime coach Dorde Sijan, the Houston Rockets center is far from a copy of the Denver Nuggets center.
“Absolutely! Jokic changed the whole game, like Steph Curry. I never worked with Jokic, so Sengun never tried to copy him,” Sijan explained to Meridian Sport. “They call him Baby Jokic for his size, but they’re two different players. Nikola set high standards in everything, and Sengun wants to add his own segments.”
“I tell him basketball is like a cake, made of slices. The slice he’s missing is the three-point shot. NBA is all about shot speed, reactions, and reading the game. Jokic may not be fast, but he plays at full reaction speed,” he added.
Credit Scanpix
The 23-year-old center has already shown maturity beyond his years. During his time at Besiktas, he even turned down a $2 million offer from Fenerbahce, choosing instead to focus on an NBA career.
“Imagine that mindset! In Besiktas at that time, there were contracts you couldn’t even afford a nice restaurant in Istanbul. He simply believed in himself, and in me. No one thought he could make it to the NBA,” Sijan recalled.
Now, as an All-Star, Sengun continues to refine his game under Sijan’s guidance. They have focused heavily on his three-point shooting, a skill Sengun didn’t develop earlier in Turkey.
“This year we focused mostly on three-point shooting, Sijan said. “That shot was forbidden for him before. There’s big pressure on him to shoot more. NBA is modern basketball, they want him to be a five or four who can stretch.”
“We worked from day one to the last, perfecting his shooting mechanics. Now he needs mental stability and confidence. Shot selection is key,” he concluded.
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