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GIRESUN, TÜRKİYE - FEB. 1, 2025: A Turkish coach expressed pride after a young player he mentored earned a spot in the NBA All-Star lineup, marking a significant milestone for Turkish basketball on the global stage. The coach, Salim Tasli, who mentored the young player, Alperen Sengun, for three years, is proud that he became the second and youngest Turkish player selected for the All-Star game. Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun has recently been named an NBA All-Star for the first time in his career. Drafted as the 16th pick in 2021 from Türkiye, the 22-year-old is averaging 19.1 points, 10.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game this season, emerging as one of the Rockets’ standout players. The Rockets currently hold second place in the Western Conference with a record of 32 wins and 14 losses, thanks in large part to Sengun’s contributions. His coach believes that Sengun has the potential to achieve even greater goals, such as winning an NBA championship and the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. "Among his future goals are winning his team's championship in the NBA and receiving the most valuable player (MVP) award, which are very achievable for him," the coach told. "He can accomplish these goals. It's just a matter of time, and within the next 3-4 years, he will easily achieve them." The NBA All-Star Game, set for Feb. 16, will bring together 24 of the league’s top talents, including 10 starters announced last week and 14 reserves selected by NBA head coaches. For the Western Conference, Sengun joins fellow first-time All-Stars Victor Wembanyama and Jalen Williams, alongside seasoned veterans like LeBron James and Stephen Curry, who were named starters. Reporting by Gultekin Yetgin // Writing by Mustafa Tuncer (Footage by Gültekin Yetgin /Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)