EuroBasket 2025 made one thing clear – Alperen Şengün is a name everyone’s talking about. The 23-year-old Turkish center had already taken the NBA by storm since joining the Houston Rockets in 2021, earning the nickname “Baby Jokic” for his uncanny passing, court vision, and versatile post game. Before making waves in Houston, Şengün honed his craft in Turkey, rising quickly through the ranks at Bandırma Kırmızı, and later Beşiktaş. In just a few short years, his journey from Turkish leagues to the NBA spotlight has been nothing short of remarkable, blending a dynamic style that draws inevitable comparisons to Nikola Jokić.

Of course, the way EuroBasket 2025 has gone, perhaps Sengun will eventually call on people to give him another nickname, one which is entirely his own. It will be well-deserved, considering the historic run he is on, which has inspired Turkey all the way to the Finals. For now however, baby Jokic is what he is called, and there is a straightforward reason behind it.

The Origin of the Nickname ‘Baby Jokic’

The moniker “Baby Jokic” emerged during Şengün’s rookie season with the Houston Rockets in 2021–22. From threading pinpoint passes out of the post to initiating pick-and-rolls with poise, Şengün’s playmaking instantly reminded fans of Jokić’s unique ability to run an offense from the center. And well, the similarities are there for all to see.

Both the players are listed 2.11 meters high, and the baby moniker may as well on paper be said to be a result of Sengun’s lesser wingspan. While Jokic can spread up to 2.21 meters, Sengun has a wingspan of 2.13 meters. However, the playing style, and the combination of elite scoring with unlikely playmaking, in the sense that players this huge seldom have the vision and the control over their passing that make them capable of playing across positions, is the biggest sole reason why Sengun has earned this nickname-based comparison to one of the greatest players modern NBA has seen.

A standout example of Şengün’s playmaking prowess occurred during EuroBasket 2025. In the quarterfinals against Poland, he recorded a historic triple-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, becoming the youngest player ever to achieve this feat in EuroBasket history.

While the nickname highlights Şengün’s talent, he has a grounded perspective on it. “..it doesn’t bother me for now,” Şengün said in an interview back in 2024. “I’m still young! But after some point, yeah… They mean that my game is similar to him…. But when I grow up, I don’t want to hear that.” The comment reflects both his awareness of the pressure it can create and his ambition to carve out his own identity in the NBA, signaling that while the comparisons are flattering, his journey is just beginning.

Similarities Between Şengün and Nikola Jokić

Alperen Şengün’s playstyle has drawn consistent comparisons to Nikola Jokić, particularly for their passing as big men. Both possess the rare ability to run an offense from the center position, threading precise passes from the post and orchestrating plays that elevate their teammates. Jokić himself has praised Şengün’s game back in 2023, saying, “I think he’s really talented… I think they need to play a little bit more through him. Sometimes they look a little bit more stagnant… with all their 3s. This guy has the talent. He can pass the ball, He can post up, he has the touch around the rim. You can see some different moves that he’s made.”

With Turkey, that is exactly what is occuring. Sengun has averaged 20.8 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists per game, showing elite vision and awareness of where his teammates are at all points of times. That has resulted in Turkey’s supporting cast benefitting, with stars like Cedi Osman, Shane Larkin and Ercan Osmani all averaging in double-digits. This Turkey team undoubtedly plays through Sengun, whose playmaking has been one of the key reasons why the roster continued to be a threat even against sturdy defenses.

Key differences between Şengün and Nikola Jokić

While Alperen Şengün shares many traits with Nikola Jokić, the most obvious differences come down to experience and accolades. Jokić has established himself as one of the NBA’s elite, with multiple MVP awards and a Finals MVP that reflect years of high-level performance and refined decision-making under pressure. Şengün, by contrast, is still in the early stages of his NBA career, steadily learning to translate his talent into consistent impact on both ends of the floor. However, that in itself somewhat rationalizes the nickname. Baby Jokic certainly lacks the accolades that can stack up against the Serbian international.

Sengun was the 16th overall pick of the 2021 NBA draft. Like Jokic, who was picked 41st in 2014, he has risen through the ranks to be considered an elite star. However, he does appear to be on the right track, snagging his first All-Star appearance in 2025 in what was his fourth season in the big league. From similar arsenals to statlines, Sengun clearly has all the tools to develop into a superstar in his own right.

However, another area where Jokic undoubtedly takes the cake is his game-reading. The Serbian shows a regular tendency to be one step ahead of defences, and can often spot plays even before they are made. That elite ability to see the game instinctively has made him a legend for the Nuggets, and allows him to win games on his own accord.

Development areas like defense and processing speed with the ball highlight where Şengün is still growing. As Drenchman Sports observed, “But the thing that’s going to have to improve in order for him… is how he process the game whenever he holds the ball just a little bit too longer. I would like for him to speed it up.”

Hence, while Sengun does have similar tools and natural athleticism and size, there are obvious points of differences. From scoring to vision, Sengun obviously has things to improve if he wants to rival the Denver superstar. However, the way he has gone in the EuroBasket 2025 is only cause for optimism.

Şengün’s impact on the Houston Rockets

Since joining the Houston Rockets as a rookie in the 2021–22 season, Alperen Şengün has steadily grown into a focal point of the team’s offense. Even in his first season, he averaged 9.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. Over the next seasons, his role expanded significantly, highlighted by performances like a 31-point, 10-rebound game in 2024–25, where he also added 4 assists and 3 steals, demonstrating both scoring efficiency and all-around impact.

Head-to-head matchups against Jokić, such as the 2024 game against the Denver Nuggets, showcased his ability to contend with elite centers, finishing with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists while holding his own defensively.

Despite his youth, Şengün’s leadership has become evident in the EuroBasket. So much so that when Turkiye beat Serbia, Jokic’s teammate was aiming at him. Back home, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka praised his development, particularly on defense: “The way they guard him over in EuroBasket, he’s doing a great job of getting high assist numbers, being very efficient,” Udoka said. As Houston continues its rebuilding phase, Şengün’s growth, poise, and versatility make him an indispensable part of the team’s long-term plans.

He is already considered one of the best centers in the league, and continuing on this trajectory will only mean good things for both the player and the Rockets.

Is the ‘Baby Jokic’ nickname fair?

The “Baby Jokic” label has helped shine a spotlight on Alperen Şengün’s extraordinary skill set, but it barely scratches the surface of what he brings to the court. He was pivotal in Houston’s jump from 11th to 2nd in the Western Conference, an 11-win improvement, finishing second on the team in scoring and assists while leading in rebounds. His postseason performance further cemented his status.

Internationally, Şengün carried Turkey to the EuroBasket 2025 finals and they are set to go against reigning Germany tonight. Analysts like Kendrick Perkins have recognized his all-around excellence, citing his ability to switch on defense, “He is a top 5 big in the NBA… Not just because of the points, not just because of the rebounds & the assists, but he actually plays defense at a high level.” 

Yet the nickname also brings its challenges. While it highlights similarities to Jokić, it risks pigeonholing Şengün. To reach All-NBA caliber, Şengün must balance his offensive productivity with consistent defensive impact. As a center, lapses on either end of the floor are costly, and as the Rockets’ second scoring option, he needs to maximize efficiency while maintaining defensive reliability. There’s no margin for slack, he must perform at a high level on both sides of the court.

It will be fascinating to watch whether Şengün truly outgrows his “Baby Jokic” era, or if, in many ways, he already has.