How Tiago Splitter helped Alperen Sengun become a Rockets star

This is the gathering week at the Toyota Center for Houston Rockets. Wednesday’s headline was the return of former first-round pick Cam Whitmore. But a reunion with a more meaningful venue arrives Friday night, when Tiago Splitter returns to Houston.

Splitter, who played in the NBA from 2010-17, is now the interim head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. the arrest of Chauncey Billups last month.

But before that, Splitter served as an assistant coach in Houston for the 2023-24 season. He worked closely with the Rockets star Alperen Sengun.

“He taught me a lot when he was here. Sengun said before Friday’s match: “He was my brother. Mentally, I would say he helped me a lot. Because like before the game, we’re playing with Joel Embiid, (Nikol) Jokic, you know, I told him, ‘We’re going to play big players tonight and I’ve got to lock myself in.’ And he was saying, like, ‘They have to lock up to keep you safe. So that’s what they think now.”

Splitter, a native Brazilian who spent more than a decade playing professionally in Spain before joining the NBA, helped unleash the young Sengun’s confidence. That season, Sengun’s third, the Turkish big man made his biggest jump: his scoring increased by 6.3 points per game, he shot a career-high 8.4 shots per game, and his rebounding, assist and steal averages also increased.

Sengun then followed up that breakout year with his first All-Star appearance a year ago and now he has entered the MVP conversation this season.

While Kevin Durant is the biggest name on the Rockets’ roster, Sengun is a homegrown cornerstone that Houston can build around for years to come. And that’s in large part because of Splitter’s influence.

Splitter was already familiar with Sengun before he arrived in Houston, having coached against him while on the staff of the Brooklyn Nets. But when the Rockets hired him, Splitter developed the then-21-year-old into the Rockets’ best scorer and rebounder while becoming a consistent threat in the low post for the first time.

“He’s one of those, you could say, old-school big guys who gets back to the basket and a lot of quick moves, up and down, pump fakes, using his body,” Splitter said. “Hook shots, baby hook shots, run hooks. So all those type of shots that maybe in the 2000s or ’90s, the big guys would have. And we don’t see as many big guys like that. You know, all the rookie guys, face the basket, shoot threes. And when you see a big guy, you always play a big guy – he caught my attention because he was a little bit (of) the era that I’m playing in.”

Splitter, then 38 and six years removed from his playing days, guarded Sengun in their first practice together and was immediately impressed by his speed.

“I had to guard him to really get a feel for him, how fast he is,” Splitter said. “It’s a different sport, but Tyson Fury, one of the greatest boxers in the world, he moves very well. You look at him and you’re like, ‘Oh, he can’t move.’ But Alpi is one of those guys. Like, he’s got short-range speed that nobody expects, and then he’s got touch, right? You’ve got to be able to do that, and finish the play, and he’s got a soft touch. Basically – you’re born with it.”

Friday night is the first time Splitter and Sengun will meet since the coach left Houston. And Portland will certainly have to lock down to guard him, just like their coach said two years ago.