Mar 25, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) prepares to play the Minnesota Timberwolves before the game at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

Rockets Alperen Sengun Posterizes Grizzlies Not Once, but Twice

Originally posted on Houston Rockets on SI
By Anthony Duckett | Last updated Mar 28, 2026 7:00 AM ET

Houston Rockets big man Alperen Sengun is not a high-flyer. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

You're never going to see him in the dunk contest. He's not going to wow you with freakish athleticism. He doesn't possess a 40-inch vertical.

But he's a very fluid athlete. He also has good body control, especially for his size. He also has crafty footwork and is polished as a post player.

And he's one of the league's better passing big men, which is the calculus behind the comparisons to Denver Nuggets superstar and multi MVP award winning big man Nikola Jokic. Although Rockets starting point guard Fred VanVleet wants those companions to stop, as does Sengun.

But although Sengun isn’t an explosive athlete, he plays fearless and isn't afraid to go up for a dunk. He doesn't back down from an opportunity to put an opponent on a poster. Ask the Memphis Grizzlies, who became Sengun's latest target during Friday night's matchup between the two teams.

With not even two minutes into the game, the two-time All-Star big man chose violence, putting Grizzlies forward GG Jackson on a poster with a one-handed flush with authority, coming off a screen.

Alpi right into your living room pic.twitter.com/mgDa8fzFkY
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) March 28, 2026

Filthy

The game had just started. In fact, the score was just 5-3. Sengun did further damage, as well, seizing the opportunity to create yet another highlight-worthy slam. Less than three minutes into the second quarter, Sengun drove to the hole, facing resistance from Jackson at the rim, once again.

Well, not really resistance. That's probably not the best word.

Jackson jumped in the the way, getting in between Sengun and the rim. He didn't learn the first time.

Sometimes the best lessons are learned after multiple instances. Sengun threw it down on Jackson. Except this time was more intense.

And this time was just Sengun and Jackson at the goal.