Alperen Sengun apologizes for his sexist episode with a referee

Houston Rockets' star center, Alperen Sengun, publicly apologized after being involved in a verbal incident with an NBA referee during Wednesday's game against the Boston Celtics, where he was ejected for making a sexist comment. The player acknowledged behaving inappropriately and stated that he immediately regretted his words.

The incident occurred in the fourth quarter of the 114-93 loss to Boston, when Sengun vehemently protested a foul on a drive to the basket. During the argument, he repeatedly called referee Jenna Reneau a "bi***," a remark that was captured on audio and later went viral on social media after being amplified.

Sengun addressed the issue publicly for the first time after Houston's 112-106 win as visitors against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night, admitting that he let frustration get the best of him.

“It was immature of me,” the center stated. “It was just in the heat of the moment, and I said some things I shouldn't have, but I felt bad."

The Turkish big man explained that the context of the game influenced his reaction, as the Rockets were trailing by a large margin when the incident occurred, although he admitted that it does not justify his behavior.

Direct Apology After the Game

It has now been revealed that Sengun went to the referees' locker room to personally apologize to Reneau, who is in her first season as an NBA official.

“Sometimes one can't control oneself, but I should have thought better,” he pointed out. “I went to the locker room, shook her hand, and told her it wouldn't happen again. It just happened in the heat of the moment. She understood, and it was good for both of us.”

Focus on Basketball

Beyond the incident, Sengun had a standout performance in the next game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, securing his second triple-double of the season with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists, leading Houston to an important away victory.

The Rockets now aim to put the controversy behind them and focus on the final stretch of the season, while Sengun tries to demonstrate through actions that the incident was an exception and not a reflection of his character.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alperen Sengun se disculpa por su episodio sexista con una árbitra