ROCKETS’ ALPEREN SENGUN ISSUES PUBLIC APOLOGY FOR OUTBURST AGAINST REFEREE JENNA RENEAU
Alperen Sengun apologised to referee Jenna Reneau for his "immature" behaviour before being named a 2026 NBA All-Star replacement.
Referee Jenna Reneau, wearing number 93, watched over the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls game at Barclays Centre on November 1, 2024, right in the heart of Brooklyn.
But the bigger story lately involves Houston Rockets centre Alperen Sengun. He found himself in hot water after he called NBA official Jenna Reneau a “b——” several times during a game against the Boston Celtics on February 4, a night when the Rockets lost 114-93. The moment blew up online after audio caught exactly what Sengun said.
Sengun didn’t dodge the fallout. After the Rockets’ win against the Thunder on Saturday, he admitted he messed up. He called his outburst “immature” and said he has to do better. “It was just the heat of the moment, and I said some stuff I shouldn’t have said,” Sengun told William Guillory from The Athletic.
He didn’t stop there. Sengun went straight to the referees’ locker room after the game to apologise to Reneau in person. “I felt bad about it,” he said. “I shook her hand and apologised. That was immature of me. I should know better.”
“Sometimes, you can’t control yourself, but I should have known better,” he added. “It just happened in the heat of the moment. Then, she understood, and it was good on both ends.”
Sengun got tossed from the game late in the fourth quarter—just over six minutes left—after he yelled about a missed call when he didn’t get to the free-throw line. He’d blown by Luke Garza, only for Neemias Queta to block him at the rim. The Rockets were down by 25 at that point, and Sengun later admitted that the frustration from the loss boiled over.
On a brighter note, Sengun just locked in an All-Star spot. He’ll replace the injured Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, making this his second All-Star appearance. He’s joining Team World, stepping into the slot left open by the reigning MVP under the NBA’s new All-Star setup.
Sengun’s numbers back it up—he’s averaging 20.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and a career-high 6.3 assists. A lot of fans thought he got snubbed when the All-Star reserves were first announced, especially with newcomers like Jamal Murray, Chet Holmgren, and Deni Avdija making the cut. Some even argued Sengun deserved a nod over LeBron James or his teammate, Kevin Durant.
Last week, Sengun talked about being left out. “It was disappointing for me, but it happens,” he told BasketNews. “There’s a lot of talent in the league, and I’m still young. I’m going to make it eventually, and it just makes me work harder.
“I still have goals; I’ve got to make it, and stuff like this just pushes me in a good way. I just have to work harder and stay disciplined, and hopefully I’ll have a lot of years in the NBA and a lot more All-Star games ahead.”
Meanwhile, the NBA might have to name another All-Star replacement if Giannis Antetokounmpo can’t return from his calf injury. That’s still up in the air.
SUPER BOWL CLASH: TOM BRADY VS DONALD TRUMP OVER BAD BUNNY’S WILD HALFTIME SHOW
Tom Brady and Donald Trump clash over Bad Bunny’s halftime show. Discover why Brady loved it while Trump called it an "affront."
Tom Brady and President Donald Trump aren’t seeing eye to eye when it comes to Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show.
On Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, the Seahawks ran over the Patriots, rolling to a 29-13 win and taking home the Super Bowl LX trophy. Seattle’s defence was on another level, but let’s be honest, half the country was just waiting for the halftime show. Even after the cameras cut, people kept talking about it.
Bad Bunny, straight out of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, took the stage and immediately became the centre of attention. People had already been debating whether he should headline the show, and things got even louder after he called out ICE during his Grammy speech.
His performance was wild—Caribbean colours everywhere, surprise guests, and a clear nod to his roots. He didn’t hold back on the cultural flair. People loved it, and social media blew up with praise for his set.
Trump? Not a fan. He didn’t like the idea of Bad Bunny leading the show and made sure everyone knew it. Brady, on the other hand, couldn’t get enough. He even posted a video of Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga performing together, throwing in a big “Amazing!!!!!!!!!” for good measure.
The stage was packed. Ricky Martin, Cardi B, Jessica Alba, Pedro Pascal, Karol G, Young Miko, and David Grutman—they all showed up. Even Alix Earle, who’s been linked to Brady lately, made an appearance.
Meanwhile, Trump hit Truth Social with a full-on rant. He slammed the halftime show, called it “one of the worst, EVER!” and said it was an “affront” to American greatness. He complained that nobody could understand Bad Bunny, called the dancing “disgusting”, and went off about the NFL’s new kickoff rule for good measure.
While all that was going down online, Bad Bunny took the field in all white, with his last name, “Ocasio”, and the number 64 on his jersey. He opened with “Tití Me Preguntó”, striding through a set designed to look like a Puerto Rican field. The show had mashups like “Café con Ron” and “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” and at one point, Bad Bunny spiked a football into the turf. Dancers waved flags from all over Latin America—Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Cuba, and more. Then Ricky Martin and Lady Gaga joined him, sending the energy through the roof. Fotos”,
INFIELD REINFORCEMENT: DISCOVER WHY THE YANKEES TRADED FOR ATHLETICS UTILITY MAN MAX SCHUEMANN
The Yankees acquired Max Schuemann from the Athletics for Luis Burgos, DFA-ing Yanquiel Fernandez to bolster infield depth for 2026.
Pitchers and catchers are almost back—less than a week now until spring training. But teams aren’t done tinkering. The Yankees just proved it, swinging a trade with the Athletics to shore up their infield depth.
According to Bob Nightengale from USA Today, the Yankees picked up infielder Max Schuemann from Oakland in exchange for righty Luis Burgos. To make room, they’ll designate Yanquiel Fernandez for assignment.
Schuemann used to be a top prospect with the A’s, but things haven’t really clicked for him in the majors. Oakland added Andy Ibáñez and bumped Schuemann off the roster, which is when the Yankees pounced. They’re not complaining; you can never have too much infield depth.
Schuemann’s time in the big leagues has been a mixed bag. He was No. 21 on Oakland’s prospect list heading into 2024 and finally broke through to the majors that year. In his rookie season, he played a whopping 133 games, hit .220, and posted a .619 OPS. Seven home runs, 34 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases—plus, he played everywhere in the infield except first base and catcher.
Things got rough last year, though. Schuemann’s bat cooled off—he slashed just .197/.295/.273 with two homers, 13 RBIs, seven steals, and a 0.2 bWAR. Again, he bounced all over the field, but the offence just wasn’t there. The thing is, his defence is solid—a plus-8 Outs Above Average kept him around for 101 games.
The Yankees need him to hit. The glove plays, no question, but he won’t crack the 26-man roster unless his bat picks up. Realistically, Schuemann probably starts the year in the minors.
Where does he fit in New York? The Yankees have no shortage of infielders. Jazz Chisholm, Jose Caballero, and Ryan McMahon are pencilled in as starters. Don’t forget Anthony Volpe—he’ll miss the start of the season, but Aaron Boone trusts him when he’s back.
Schuemann can handle the outfield, too, but the Yankees are loaded there. Judge, Bellinger, and Grisham—they’re not moving aside. A starting role at Yankee Stadium just isn’t in the cards for Schuemann.
Still, he’s got a shot at a bench job. With his versatility and strong glove, he could edge out some of New York’s other utility guys. Amed Rosario and Oswaldo Cabrera are in the mix as well, so it won’t be easy.
Bottom line: Schuemann will get his chance this spring. If he hits, he’s got a real shot at making the team. If not, well, there’s always room for solid defence and versatility, but he’ll have to earn it.