{"id":403995,"date":"2025-09-03T22:53:40","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T20:53:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/nl\/nieuws\/sengun-imponeert-aan-jokic-tafel\/"},"modified":"2025-09-04T10:25:37","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T08:25:37","slug":"sengun-imponeert-aan-jokic-tafel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/nl\/nabeschouwingen\/sengun-imponeert-aan-jokic-tafel\/","title":{"rendered":"Seng\u00fcn imponeert aan Jokic&#8217; tafel"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>You could see it in his stride. He had this date circled on his calendar in bright red. Being called by a last name that isn\u2019t really his for so long can take a toll. And this wasn\u2019t some random NBA regular-season night. It was a moment to sit at the same table as his idol and finally surpass the father figure. Alperen Seng\u00fcn looked Nikola in the eye to tell him he\u2019s no longer \u201cBaby Jokic.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The game\u2014one of the highest-level showdowns so far in this EuroBasket\u2014offered countless twists. But Seng\u00fcn <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/nbamaniacs\/status\/1963344137714864331\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">dominated it from start to finish<\/a> (95\u201390). He even picked off Marko Guduric for a steal that signaled the beginning of the end for Serbia.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Seng\u00fcn, in the Name of the Father<\/h2>\n<p>In the first couple of possessions, Seng\u00fcn tried to attack Serbia the same way he\u2019d steamrolled past every other opponent. But he soon realized this challenge was different. After his third unsuccessful post-up, he decided to face up and pull Nikola Jokic out of his comfort zone. The first quarter was all about mid-range and long-range shooting, as well as distribution\u2014an area he clearly knows well.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Alperen Sengun with the behind the back assist<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/vSr4Hf5Z4m\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/vSr4Hf5Z4m<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MrBuckBuckNBA\/status\/1963309958893543513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">September 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>He also ventured into the paint when his team needed it. That\u2019s where he capped a memorable night, finishing with 28 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4-of-7 shooting from three.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"510\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/schermafbeelding-van-3-september-2025-om-22-21-53.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-411228\" style=\"width:345px;height:auto\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Shooting chart for Alperen Seng\u00fcn vs Serbia.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Serbia Held Its Own<\/h2>\n<p>The game was played on even terms. This speaks highly of Turkey, which until not long ago didn\u2019t look like it belonged in these debates, but it also reflects well on Serbia, which has bounced back quite well from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/nl\/artikelen\/bogdanovic-loopt-blessure-op-jokic-verkeerd-begrepen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">losing Bogdan Bogdanovic<\/a>. The Balkan side began the contest with the apparent intention not to rely solely on Nikola Jokic. The center had fewer touches than usual early on and contributed mainly through setting screens. He finished the first half with only five shot attempts, even though Turkey often guarded him one-on-one.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, Serbia wanted more players involved in decision-making and playmaking. Nikola Jovic came out aggressively off the dribble, and so did Marinkovic, Stefan Jovic, and Marko Guduric. Aleksa Avramovic was also part of the plan, though he\u2019s underperformed with his shooting so far in this tournament despite how crucial his defense is.<\/p>\n<p>However, as the game progressed, Jokic\u2019s impact grew\u2014and so did his teammates\u2019 dependence on him. He found plenty of success in his ever-productive connection with Filip Petrusev, around which Serbia built its dominance in the paint. They ended up outscoring Turkey 42\u201326 in the lane.<\/p>\n<p>Overall, Jokic performed below his usual standards and had to work hard on defense. Ercan Osmani did a great job denying him the ball, but on a normal day the Denver Nuggets star usually imposes his will more clearly. Even so, considering who we\u2019re talking about, he still guided Serbia\u2019s half-court offense and stood as a defensive pillar.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Seng\u00fcn\u2019s Sidekick<\/h2>\n<p>Turkey\u2019s ability to respond was especially impressive. There were several moments when Serbia tightened passing lanes, forced a string of mistakes and fast breaks, and looked set to run away with the game. But then a couple of timely threes and solid defense from Turkey kept things in balance.<\/p>\n<p>Seng\u00fcn couldn\u2019t have asked for a better sidekick than Shane Larkin, who showed a special spark from the opening tip. The opposite was true for his longtime teammate Vasilije Micic, who\u2019s still struggling on the floor despite the occasional flash.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Shane Larkin dances, Shane Larkin hits.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/EuroBasket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">#EuroBasket<\/a> x <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TBF?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">@TBF<\/a> \ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddf7 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/hXXzUpNTRd\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/hXXzUpNTRd<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/EuroBasket\/status\/1963311837723623756?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">September 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Larkin easily got past the typically sticky defense of Avramovic or Stefan Jovic, though he struggled to keep his edge once he reached the paint. Most of his production came from outside, but his trips to the lane opened up plenty of shots and good looks for his teammates. He was rightfully the second-best player on the floor.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Standout Players<\/h2>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Shane Larkin<\/h4>\n<p>His shooting prowess is still there, and he was a constant whirlwind. His almost effortless ability to pull up for threes off the dribble\u2014changing direction at lightning speed\u2014gave order to the Turkish offense. It was like finding peace in chaos.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stats<\/strong>: 23 points (5\/8 3PT), 9 assists.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nikola Jokic<\/h4>\n<p>He started out with support from his teammates, letting them take the initiative, but ended up battling on his own. That was especially true on defense, where he got little help against the imposing Seng\u00fcn. Realistically, Serbia couldn\u2019t do much more, though he surely missed Jovic down the stretch.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stats<\/strong>: 22 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Alperen Seng\u00fcn<\/h4>\n<p>Some games mark a before-and-after moment for a player, and this one looks like it could change Seng\u00fcn\u2019s life. For now, he\u2019s an NBA star who hasn\u2019t quite reached \u201csuper-\u201d status. But Houston has made it clear he\u2019s the leader after Jalen Green\u2019s departure. And this EuroBasket seems set to elevate him to new heights once he heads back across the pond.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83d\udcca 28 PTS | 13 REB | 8 AST<\/p>\n<p>Alperen Sengun putting Europe on notice! \ud83d\udde3\ufe0f A spectacular performance to help T\u00fcrkiye stay unbeaten.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/EuroBasket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">#EuroBasket<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/gUQlIjd2yR\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/gUQlIjd2yR<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/EuroBasket\/status\/1963343370396262784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">September 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p><strong>Stats<\/strong>: 28 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists. <\/p>\n<p><em>(Cover photo courtesy of FIBA EuroBasket)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You could see it in his stride. He had this date circled on his calendar in bright red. Being called by a last name that &#8230; <a title=\"Seng\u00fcn imponeert aan Jokic&#8217; tafel\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/nl\/nabeschouwingen\/sengun-imponeert-aan-jokic-tafel\/\" aria-label=\"Lees meer over Seng\u00fcn imponeert aan Jokic&#8217; tafel\">Leeg meer<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14501,"featured_media":403993,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5237],"tags":[4524,2804],"class_list":["post-403995","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nabeschouwingen","tag-alperen-sengun","tag-nikola-jokic","no-featured-image-padding","resize-featured-image"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/alpi-sengun-schittert-voor-rockets.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Nora Elisabeth van den Heuvel","author_link":"https:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/nl\/auteur\/nora-elisabeth\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/403995","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14501"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=403995"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/403995\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":403996,"href":"https:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/403995\/revisions\/403996"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/403993"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=403995"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=403995"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=403995"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}