In a playful twist, the nickname for Jokic has been shifted: From 'Baby' Jokic to 'Daddy' Sengun.

Turkish Star Alperen Sengun Shines at EuroBasket 2025

In a thrilling turn of events at EuroBasket 2025, Alperen Sengun, the Turkish national basketball team's centre, has taken the stage by storm. The 21-year-old prodigy has been making waves across the continent, redefining the concept of a playmaking big man and challenging the status quo set by Nikola Jokic, one of the world's top big men.

FIBA's official social media post read, "Not Baby Jokic. Call him Daddy Sengun.", showcasing the global resonance of Sengun's transformation. Shane Larkin, Sengun's teammate, stated that Sengun is no longer "Baby Jokic" but is now writing his own story, highlighting his recognized leadership within the team.

Across the five group-stage games, Sengun averaged an impressive 21.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.6 steals + blocks, and an efficiency rating of 31.4. In the match against Serbia, Sengun scored 28 points, had 13 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Jokic scored 22 points, had 9 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Sengun's performance against Jokic was superior in both scoring and leadership, with the crowd chanting "MVP" throughout the game. Ergin Ataman, the Turkish coach, positioned Sengun as the brain of the offense for the Serbia match, limiting Jokic's impact and allowing Sengun to shine on the court.

The victory over Serbia was more than just a win; it was the materialization of Turkey's ambition in EuroBasket 2025, and Sengun's true identity was born. Ataman's locker room speech after the match went viral, declaring the team's goal of winning a medal in EuroBasket 2025.

The Türkiye-Serbia clash left its mark not just on the scoreboard but in the narrative of basketball itself, as a new age with Sengun on the stage has begun. European media often ran headlines like "Baby Jokic vs. Real Jokic" during the tournament, but after the Türkiye-Serbia clash, the narrative shifted to "Sengun is no longer compared, he is defined."

Sengun's pick-and-roll plays with Larkin redefined the concept of a "playmaking big man" at EuroBasket 2025. Sengun's style is more intuitive and improvisational compared to Jokic, who is a system player who masters the mathematical side of basketball. Sengun's 28 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists in the match against Serbia were more than statistics-they were a declaration of his character and basketball identity.

The victory over Serbia marked a turning point that could change the course of the tournament, as Turkey led the group and was no longer just competing-it was chasing a medal. Jokic's group-stage averages were 20.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.2 steals + blocks, and an efficiency rating of 29, but Sengun's performance has undeniably raised the bar.

Alperen Sengun, the new face of Turkish basketball, continues to write his own story at EuroBasket 2025. His journey is just beginning, and the future of European basketball looks promising with Sengun leading the charge.

In a playful twist, the nickname for Jokic has been shifted: From 'Baby' Jokic to 'Daddy' Sengun.