In pairing a blend of competitiveness, physicality, and finesse that few players in today’s NBA can match, Alperen Şengün positioned himself for a performance that few players in the NBA’s history have ever achieved. Having spent much of his record-setting night punishing the San Antonio Spurs’ bigs through his own skillset, the up-and-coming center adds some versatility to his highlight reel, hustling into the wide-open void in the Spurs’ transition defense. Commanding a defender’s attention just long enough with his post-up attempt, Şengün whips a behind-the-back, to an uncovered teammate, allowing him to culminate the possession with a crowd-igniting jam. Successfully earning his measure of revenge in the win over his in-state rivals on March 5, 2024, Şengün made a Texas-sized impact, recording 45 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, five steals, one block, and two 3-pointers, becoming just NBA history’s fifth player to record such a statline, as well as it’s youngest ever. · Mar 6, 2024