Kevin Durant joined the Houston Rockets this offseason in a record-breaking seven-team deal. Like all his trades, this one garnered wild speculation until it occurred. The Miami Heat had a wild offer for the Phoenix Suns to acquire Durant. But when the dust settled, Houston landed the superstar, pairing him with a team led by rising star Alperen Sengun.

Recently, Sengun opened up about his excitement in welcoming Durant to the Rockets. The Rockets star recalled a personal exchange with KD.

“I gave him two weeks to settle in, and then I sent him a message saying, ‘Welcome to the team. I can’t wait to play with you; we are gonna have a great year,’ and he responded and said we’re gonna do great stuff,’” Sengun said.

Sengun also reflected on a moment from last season that spoke volumes about Durant’s respect for his growth as a player.

“Last season, I told him one game, ‘Don’t come to double me, let me play one on one.’ He said, ‘No way, you’re an All-Star now. You’re no longer going to play one-on-one. Get used to it,’” he added.

Alperen Sengun And Kevin Durant Poised To Form The Rockets’ New Star Duo

Alperen Sengun’s steady rise with the Rockets has been one of the most exciting developments for the franchise in recent years. Last season marked a career milestone for Sengun. He earned his first All-Star selection after averaging 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game.

Now, Sengun is set to take his game to the next level alongside Kevin Durant. With Sengun’s super athleticism and Durant’s elite scoring from all areas of the floor, the duo has the potential to form a seamless offensive connection.

The Rockets already proved they were on the cusp of contention last year. Their 52-30 record secured the second seed in the Western Conference. However, the lack of a second superstar presence was evident in the playoffs when defenses keyed in on Sengun. That’s precisely where Durant’s arrival changes everything.