Nikola Jokic Not Amused as 21yr Old Alperen Sengun Tries to Be Funny with Him (Video)

As the Denver Nuggets gear up for their fourth matchup against the Houston Rockets in the past month, the Nuggets are determined to uphold their undefeated home court record. Conversely, the Rockets are eager to secure their first road game victory. However, beyond these storylines, the game sets the stage for a deeper battle—pitting Nikola Jokic against, as some claim, the ‘baby Jokic,’ Alperen Sengun.

Each time the two centers share the court, they showcase what makes for a modern-day NBA big man; passing, scoring, elite footwork, and a high basketball IQ. However, just as their latest matchup was about to commence, a hilarious moment unfolded between the two.

Nikola Jokic is not in for jokes

Moments before the tip-off, a comedic exchange unfolded between Nikola Jokic and Alperen Sengun. As caught by the live telecast, Sengun had a few lines to say to Jokic as the two players prepared in the middle of the court. Despite a brief chuckle from Sengun at the end, Jokic, with all focus on the game, simply nodded before diverting his gaze unamusedly.

One can reason Jokic’s reaction by claiming that only the Joker can crack jokes. However, the moment highlights Nikola’s penchant for focusing intensely on the game at hand, free of any distractions.

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Nevertheless, as the third quarter kicks off, it appears that Sengun has the upper hand over Jokic. As the game progresses, Alperen is not only outperforming the finals MVP in points but also excelling in facilitating the ball.

Sengun is already on a Jokic-like journey

In Alperen Sengun’s initial 3 seasons, his statistics bear a striking resemblance to Nikola Jokic’s first three years in the NBA. During his rookie year, Jokic averaged 2.4 assists per game while playing 21.7 minutes per game as a traditional big man. Similarly, Sengun notched 2.6 assists in his rookie season, starting in just 13 games but accumulating Jokic-like minutes on the floor; 20.7 minutes over 72 games.

Jokic experienced a surge in his second season, largely due to his coach’s confidence in him; leading to an improvement in assists to 4.9. Furthermore, Jokic also took on playmaking responsibilities in the absence of the main point guard. In Sengun’s case, progress came more gradually, hindered by various blue-collar pieces in the roster. Nonetheless, he elevated his performance to 3.9 assists and increased his scoring, falling just 2 points shy of Jokic’s second-year average of 16.7.

Entering his third year, Jokic assumed command of the Nuggets’ offense with the freedom to run plays. Similarly, Houston’s new coach, Ime Udoka, is shaping Sengun into an offensive hub. In critical game situations, Udoka has entrusted Sengun with primary playmaking duties (reminiscent of Jokic’s role in his second year).

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While it may take time for Alperen to reach the all-time greatness of Jokic, he has undeniably captured attention with his Jokic-like abilities.