From H-Town to the Valley, Jalen Green has officially turned the page. And he did it with the flair of a certified bucket-getter who still has love for the squad he left behind. In a Players Tribune letter that read like a mixtape of gratitude, life lessons, and hilarious locker room memories, Green let fans in on his time in Houston, revealing more than just stats and strategy.

But it wasnt just about the business of basketball or his hopes in Phoenix. Buried between love letters to Houston food and shout-outs to his mom was a surprising confession. One that had NBA Twitter on its toes. And it had everything to do with Alperen Sengun . Turns out, the bearded big man comes with a little mystery, and a whole lot of unexpected swagger. And while Jalen Green was Houstons leading scorer and media darling, even he didnt see Sengun coming with this energy.

If you were expecting Jalen Green to spend his goodbye letter naming All-Star accolades or venting about trade politics, think again. What we got instead was real, a mix of humor, emotion, and a few stories that left Rockets fans feeling like they had front-row seats to a team group chat. Thats where Alperen Sengun came in.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

I didnt know Europeans could be so down-to-earth like that! I thought yall were all bougie. But no, Alpy is cool as hell, Green wrote, dropping a moment of revelation that had Rockets fans everywhere yelling Thats my center!

via Imago

Jan 3, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) warms up prior to the game against the Boston Celtics at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images

Green and Sengun came in together in 2021, two kids, two totally different backgrounds. On one mission: flip the rebuild narrative on its head. But while Green was racking up highlights and crossing dudes into next week, Sengun was quietly grinding, clowning in the locker room. And apparently flipping stereotypes on their heads. Greens honest take? Total surprise.

Alpy didnt come in with diva energy. He came in spitting Turkish rap, swearing in freshly learned English, and just being vibes . Thats my guy though, Green said. And it wasnt just locker room chemistry. While fans and analysts often debated whether Sengun could be a modern NBA big man. His work ethic and spirit were never in question inside the organization. If anything, Sengun surprised more than just Jalen with his humble presence and relentless grind.

Greens letter hinted at the chemistry behind Houstons unexpected rise. We were such a close group, he wrote. Thats why its so tough to even be doing a goodbye& Every guy is somebody I was close with. But Green seemed to save special appreciation for Sengun, the 6113 enigma who might just be the key to Houstons future.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The low-key legend of Alperen Sengun

While fans know Alperen Sengun for his silky footwork, elite passing, and bully-ball finishes, what they didnt know was the cultural mashup happening behind the scenes. Jalen Green pulled the curtain back on one of his favorite memories with the big man.

And of course, my Turkish brother, Alpy. When we first came in here as kids, I didnt know what the hell youd be saying half the time. We were teaching you how to swear in English, bro. Remember that? Youd be showing me all that Turkish rap, and I just couldnt get jiggy with it. Im sorry, bro. Yall gotta learn to switch the flow up. Hahahaha.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The vibe was pure comedy, a young American star trying to decode Turkish bars, while a 19-year-old from Giresun, Turkey, was trying to learn curse words from NBA rookies. This is the content we dont get in press conferences. But underneath the jokes, theres something deeper brewing. Sengun, fresh off his first All-Star selection, is taking steps to expand his game, most notably, his outside shooting. Though his career 3-point percentage sits at a shaky 27.2%, Rockets insiders like Kelly Iko have reported that Sengun is in the lab this summer. Working out with none other than Fred VanVleet to build confidence from deep.

The Rockets coaching staff remains committed: they want Sengun to take those open looks. With Kevin Durant now in town drawing gravity like a black hole, Sengun has more space than ever. And if he starts hitting threes at even a league-average clip? Houston becomes an offensive nightmare.