Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun did not hold back when reflecting on last season’s playoff battle with the Golden State Warriors.
Speaking on the seven-game series, Sengun pointed to what he saw as a double standard in how fouls were discussed and handled. “They’re a very experienced team, and they fouled a lot. In the playoffs, they don’t call it. But they were the ones crying all series about fouls not being called,” he said.
The Rockets’ first-round clash with Golden State was one of the most competitive series of the 2025 postseason. Houston trailed 3–1 before storming back to force a decisive Game 7, where the Warriors ultimately advanced.
For Sengun, the matchup was a breakout moment on the biggest stage of his career. The 23-year-old big man averaged 20.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 5.3 assists across the seven games, emerging as the Rockets’ most reliable option in the paint.
The performance followed another strong regular season in which he posted 19.1 points, 10.3 boards, and 4.9 assists per game while starting all 76 of Houston’s contests.
Sengun’s growth has been central to the Rockets’ resurgence. The franchise secured its first playoff berth and Southwest Division title since 2020, signaling a return to relevance in the Western Conference.
The Warriors, led by veterans Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler, leaned on their experience and defensive schemes to slow Houston’s offensive rhythm. Yet Sengun believes the defending tactics went beyond what was called on the floor.
