Rockets star's explicit outburst toward female ref sparks apology

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Houston Rockets star Alperen Sengun was ejected from Wednesday night’s blowout loss to the Boston Celtics after he appeared to call a female referee a "b----" during the game.

Sengun appeared to use the explicit words at Jenna Reneau after she said the ball went off him and out of bounds while he tried to establish position in the paint. He addressed the remarks after the Rockets’ win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night.

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Rockets center Alperen Sengun reacts after realizing he was being ejected from the game against Boston, in Houston, Wednesday, Feb. 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 I apologized. I shake (her) hand and said that would never happen again. It just happened in the heat of the moment and she understood, and it was good by both ends."

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Rockets center Alperen Sengun is ejected from the Boston game in Houston, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/ Karen Warren)

It’s unclear if Sengun will face discipline from the league. On Sunday, he was announced as an All-Star Game replacement. He and Kevin Durant were the Houston players selected for the game.

He’s started 44 games this season for Houston and is averaging 20.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals and a block per game. It will be the second time in his career that he will be an All-Star.

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun shoots against Thunder center