Rockets center Alperen Sengun apologizes for offensive remark toward female referee

Rockets star Alperen Sengun wishes he could take this one back.

Following Houston’s 112-106 win over the Thunder on Saturday, Sengun showed remorse for making a sexist remark to a female referee during a game earlier in the week.

Sengun, 23, called official Jenna Reneau “a bitch” multiple times during the Rockets’ 114-93 loss to the Celtics on Wednesday, which resulted in his ejection.

Alperen Sengun reacts in frustration after a play during the second quarter of the Rockets’ blowout home loss to the Celtics on Feb. 4, 2026 at Toyota Center. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

“That was immature by me,” Sengun told reporters on Saturday, according toESPN. “That was just in the moment, and I said some stuff I shouldn’t say, but I felt bad about it.”

Sengun’s outburst came as he was protesting a no-call following a drive through to the basket, with his comments going viral on social media with enhanced audio making what he said to Reneau clear.

The Turkish center also said that he went to the officials’ locker room and apologized to Reneau immediately after the game.

“Sometimes you can’t control yourself, but I should have known better,” Sengun said. “But I fixed it and then I went to the locker room and I apologized. I [shook her] hand and said that would never happen again.

“It just happened in the heat of the moment. Then she understood, and it was good on both ends.”

Sengun is currently in his fifth NBA season and has proven to be one of the Rockets’ main contributors alongside 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant.

Referee Jenna Reneau looks on during the 76ers’ win over the Celtics on Nov. 11, 2025 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. NBAE via Getty Images

Through 43 games played this season, Sengun is averaging 20.9 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 6.2 assists while shooting nearly 50 percent from the field.

Despite Sengun’s impressive play during the first half, he missed the cut for this year’s All-Star team, with many claiming the big man was snubbed.

Sengun, who notched his first career All-Star appearance last season, told reporters that, though disappointed, he hopes to have more appearances in the midseason classic in the future.

“It’s my goal after this time, after last year’s, to be also every year. It was disappointing for me, but it happens,” Sengun told reporters earlier this month. “We have a lot of talents in the league, and I’m still young. I’m going to make it eventually, and it’s going to make me just work hard.

“I still have goals, I’ve got to make it, and stuff like this just always pushes me in a good way. I just got to work harder, be disciplined in what I’m doing, and hopefully I have a lot of years in the NBA and a lot of All-Stars I will make.”