Alperen Sengun has looked like a completely different force during Turkey's FIBA preparation games, dominating opponents in a way that's hard to overlook.
Turkey opened EuroBasket with a statement win over Latvia, and everything about their offense flowed through Sengun, who finished the game with 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.
In the preparation games already, we saw how Ataman structured the system around him in battles against Montenegro, Lithuania, and reigning world champion Germany.
Across those games, the Houston Rockets center averaged more than 25 points per game on 63% shooting, along with 8.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals.
In every matchup, he looked nearly unstoppable, blending skill, strength, and confidence while establishing himself as the clear centerpiece of Turkey's attack.
The question now is whether head coach Ergin Ataman has unlocked a new version of Sengun, or if he's simply thriving in the European style of play that shaped his early career.
Ataman
Ataman
Credit Imagn/Scanpix
Either way, his performances haven't gone unnoticed; even his new Rockets teammate, Kevin Durant, took to social media to praise Sengun's moves.
A Bigger Usage in the Post
One of the clearest differences in Turkey's approach is how much they've featured Sengun in the low post.
While he is also heavily used as a low-post threat in Houston, Ataman has made it a primary focus and taken that usage to another level.
Roughly 34% of Sengun's offensive possessions in these games came from post-ups – a significant jump compared to around 22% with the Rockets.
Not only is the usage up, but so is the efficiency: Sengun averaged about 0.79 points per possession on post-ups in the 2024–25 NBA season; during these friendlies, he raised that to 0.93.
What's impressive is that he did this despite tighter FIBA spacing and the absence of the NBA's defensive three-second rule, which allows defenders to clog the paint.
That means Sengun often had to work through extra bodies or anticipate double-teams sooner than he might in the NBA.
Even so, he used his footwork, strength, and patience to carve out space and score against elite European bigs.
He mixed in spins, counters, and smart fakes, showing he could adapt to whatever coverage came his way.
Turkey also built smart actions around him, often clearing corners to create true one-on-one opportunities and using weakside cuts and screens to occupy help defenders.
For example, guards like Shane Larkin would cut to overload one side, keeping defenses in motion while Sengun established a deep position.
Larkin
Larkin
Credit IMAGO/Alexander Trienitz – Scanpix
These weren't flashy plays, but they were deliberate, showing Ataman's understanding that Sengun is at his best when allowed to read and react.
Creative Sets and Ballhandling Opportunities
Turkey also added wrinkles to showcase Sengun's versatility.
Sets like "Bilbao" – where the offense runs staggered screens on the opposite side while Sengun posts up, kept defenses occupied, and gave Sengun even more room to play 1-on-1 in these sorts of situations.
When you pair this with shooters spaced around the arc, defenders have to make tough choices: help on Sengun and give up a clean shot outside, or stay home and let him go to work.
It's the kind of gravity only high-level offensive players command.
Perhaps most intriguing were the inverted pick-and-rolls, where Sengun acted as the ballhandler and smaller guards screened for him.
With guards setting picks, Sengun's craft and vision as a playmaker came into focus. He was decisive – attacking mismatches, delivering on-time passes, or using his improved strength and explosiveness to get downhill.
It's something we rarely see in Houston, where only 3% of his play types came from inverted pick-and-rolls as a ball handler.
Meanwhile, in the first EuroBasket game and during preparation games, the use of this play type has already increased by a few percent.
Transition also became a showcase for his athletic growth.
Sengun may draw comparisons to Jokic for his passing and feel, but his willingness to push the ball and finish above the rim adds a dynamic element.
Turkey
Turkey
Credit FIBA Media
Plays where he led the break or threw down powerful dunks stood out, showing improved vertical pop and confidence.
Those moments aren't just highlights; they speak to his physical development and the growing trust in his ability to make plays at speed.
Defensive Growth in the FIBA Setting
Offense aside, Sengun's defense in these games deserves mention.
In the NBA, he's often criticized for slower lateral quickness. Although he has improved a lot in the 2024-25 season, he still struggles in certain areas.
However, FIBA basketball, with its different rules and floor spacing, has enabled him to mask some weaknesses and capitalize on his strengths: IQ, anticipation, and quick hands.
Without the defensive three-second rule, he can sit deeper in the paint, read plays, and disrupt actions without being pulled too far from the rim.
That change alone gives him more time to make decisions and cover angles.
Against teams with shooting fives, they weren't afraid to mix in short zones to protect Sengun if the opposing teams forced Turkey to switch with Sengun.
Credit FIBA Media
He showed sharp timing as a helper and even rotated into peel switches when needed. These are subtle things, but they highlight his improved awareness and adaptability.
Turkey's schemes helped too. They mostly lean on drop coverage with Sengun, often "bumping" rollers with perimeter players to keep rotations tight. This is the primary option.
This is a well-known system that Ataman used extensively during his time with Efes, where the team covered slower bigs like Tibor Plais with similar schemes and rotations, which we now see with Turkey and Sengun.
The good thing is that Turkey has a lot of players who can fight over screens really well and minimize the advantage, which helps Sengun in this particular coverage.
The biggest test will likely come against Serbia, where all eyes will be on how Ergin Ataman approaches the challenge of defending Nikola Jokic.
Stopping Jokic one-on-one is virtually impossible, so Turkey will need a collective strategy.
Ataman may turn to zone looks when Jokic establishes position in the post, or rely on different team-oriented schemes designed to limit his impact.
It's still a long shot to truly contain him, but the tactical battle and adjustments will be interesting to watch.
Sengun vs Porzingis Ends In EuroBasket Opener Stunner
Vukašin Nedeljković
Vukašin played basketball competitively in his youth, and now contributes to Synergy Sports Technology and Sportradar regarding basketball analysis. He also has experience working as a journalist in Serbia and is passionate about writing basketball articles mainly focused on basketball X's and O's.
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