Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets reacts after making a shot ... [+] in the first quarter of an NBA In-Season Tournament game against the Den

It is the first All-Star selection for Şengün, the 22-year-old center who over the last four seasons has helped to rebuild the Rockets into a playoff contender.

Alperen Şengün joined the Houston Rockets at the depths of their post-Harden rebuild in the 2021 NBA draft. The 22-year-old center is now an All-Star as Houston rises up the NBA hierarchy. Şengün’s been reaching new heights this season 🚀 Alperen Şengün is an #NBAAllStar! pic.twitter.com/GfTkVUlnKv

The Rockets currently hold second place in the Western Conference with a record of 32 wins and 14 losses, thanks in large part to Şengün’s contributions. His selection marks a historic milestone as he becomes only the second Turkish player in NBA history to earn an All-Star spot, following Mehmet Okur in 2007.

Rockets star Alperen Sengun earned the first NBA All-Star selection of his career, only needing one word to react to the news.

In what has become a sizzling rivalry between two of the top Western Conference teams, the Rockets and Grizzlies meet for the final game of the regular season.

In their third road game in four nights and playing without All-Star center Alperen Sengun, the Rockets ran out of steam late in Memphis.

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun was named an NBA All-Star for the first time in his career on Thursday. Drafted as the 16th pick in 2021 from Türkiye, the 22-year-old is averaging 19.1 points, 10.

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.

Joining Wembanyama as a West reserve are Jaren Jackson Jr., Jalen Williams, Anthony Edwards, Anthony Davis, James Harden and Alperen Şengün. The seven reserves from the East are Jaylen Brown, Pascal Siakam, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Cade Cunningham, Damian Lillard and Tyler Herro, as selected by the conference’s coaches.

With the Cavaliers down two points, Darius Garland, their potential All-Star guard and 90 percent free-throw shooter, sat alone at the line with the chance to give Cleveland the lead. Even if he failed to make all three free throws, Cleveland, via a Flagrant One on the Rockets, would have the ball with a chance to seal the game.

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun earned his first career All-Star selection on Thursday, but the fourth-year veteran's achievement came on a rough day for him and his team.