Rockets' fourth-year center an icon in his home country, where Turkish fans and politicians support his career.

With the NBA trade deadline just a week away, the Houston Rockets will have to explore what moves can help them compete for an NBA Championship this season, but are they already there?

Nearing real stardom, Şengün reflects on Rockets' belief in him: "Whoever trusts me, or backs me up, I will take care of them all my life."

The Rockets' two top scorers have a chance to be voted into the NBA All-Star Game, recognition their teammates say both players earned. So we had them pitch it.

Nikola Jovic did the same on the road for Miami in Brooklyn, scoring 17 points with 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals in the Heat ‘s 106-97 road win against the Nets. His countryman Vasilije Micic scored 11 points and shared 4 assists in Charlotte’s 123-92 victory against New Orleans.

Houston is looking to extend its four-game win streak with a victory against Memphis. Thursday's meeting is the first this season between the squads.

Alperen Şengün is a Turkish professional basketball player born on July 25, 2002, in Giresun, Turkey. He plays as a center for the Houston Rockets in the NBA and represents the Turkish national team.

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun is enjoying the best season of his career. The fourth-year center is averaging just over 19 points and 10 rebounds per game, and the Rockets are in second ...

Boston has lost nine games this season where it had the lead in the fourth quarter (which equals last year's mark in half the games).

The Houston Rockets (30-14) play the final game of a two-game season series against the Boston Celtics (32-14) on Monday at TD Garden. The Celtics handed the Rockets their biggest loss of the season in a 109-86 blowout at Toyota Center on Jan.

"The opponents are the opponents," Udoka said after Friday's practice in Houston. "That's the way we want to go about it. Forget the opponent. Let's do what we do." Udoka's mantra will be repeated ...

To Amen Thompson's surprise, with five seconds left in a tied midseason game against the defending NBA champions, Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka called a play for the second-year forward. "I liked the matchup,