Houston Rockets All-Star center Alperen Sengün says he’s stepped beyond the “Baby Jokić” nickname and into his own lane, framing his evolution in the NBA with a clear message: admiration doesn’t mean imitation.
“Jokić was the player I looked up to when I came to the league. Now I have my own thing, I have my own team… I’m writing my own story,” Sengün said.
Alperen Sengun say he’s moved on from the “Baby Jokić” nickname:
“Jokić, was the player I looked up to when I came to the league. Now I have my own thing, I have my own team… I’m writing my own story.”
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His stance echoes recent coverage charting his growth from a promising young big to a franchise anchor who no longer sees comparisons as a ceiling.
The game itself lived up to its billing, with the Nuggets holding off a late Rockets surge to secure the win. Jokić, the three-time MVP, orchestrated Denver’s offense with his trademark blend of scoring and passing, while Jamal Murray provided crucial perimeter shooting down the stretch. Sengün battled valiantly, showcasing his own playmaking and interior scoring, but Houston could not overcome Denver’s execution in the final minutes.
The matchup highlighted both the similarities and differences between the two European centers. Early in his career, Sengün’s vision and footwork drew inevitable comparisons to Jokić, but his insistence on forging his own identity reflects his growing stature as the leader of a young Rockets team. Facing Jokić head-to-head in a high-stakes Cup game underscored the symbolic passing of a narrative: Sengün is no longer content to be seen as a younger version of Denver’s star, but rather as a player writing his own chapter in the league.
