What happened: Alperen Sengun met Yao Ming during NBA China Games 2026. The meeting paired Houston's present center with a past center in the same week as Houston's 132-115 final.

Why it matters: The meeting puts Houston's current center alongside the franchise's earlier China-era lineage on a league showcase stage. It gives the China visit a direct past-to-present link for Houston.

What to watch: Houston heads to its next date after the China Games stop.