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Houston Rockets star Alperen Sengun was ejected from Wednesday night’s blowout loss to the Boston Celtics after appearing to call a female referee a “bitch” during the game.
Sengun appeared to use explicit words towards Jenna Reneau after she said the ball went off her and was out of bounds as he tried to establish position in the paint. He made the remarks after the Rockets’ victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night.
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Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) reacts after realizing he was ejected from the game during the second half of an NBA basketball game against Boston in Houston on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
He said he apologized to Reneau.
“Sometimes you can’t control yourself, but I should have known better,” he said. “But I fixed it, and then I went to the locker room and apologized. I shook her hand and told her it would never happen again. It happened in the heat of the moment and she understood, and it was good on both sides.”
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Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) was stunned after being ejected from the game during the second half of an NBA basketball game against Boston in Houston on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
It is unclear whether Sengun will face discipline from the league. On Sunday, he was announced as an alternate for the All-Star Game. He and Kevin Durant were the Houston players selected for the game.
He has started 44 games this season for Houston and is averaging 20.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals and one block per game. This will be the second time in his career that he has been an All-Star.
Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder center/forward Chet Holmgren (7) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gérald Leong)
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The Rockets are 32-19 this season after the 112-106 win over the Thunder. Houston sits in fourth place in the Western Conference, trailing the Denver Nuggets by a game for third place and Oklahoma City by seven games.
