WASHINGTON Wizards rookie Alex Sarr is living the dream, arriving in the NBA after a journey that spanned three continents.
His new teammate, shooting guard Jordan Poole, couldn’t be happier seeing the 7-foot Frenchman join the young Wizards squad and usher in a new era in Washington.
Washington Wizards rookie Alex Sarr told The U.S. Sun his ‘lifelong’ dream came true after landing in the NBA following a journey that spanned three continentsCredit: Getty
Wizards star Jordan Poole said he was ‘excited’ to link up with the French center in WashingtonCredit: Getty
The Wizards selected Sarr (left) at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NBA DraftCredit: Getty
Sarr put his elite defense on display during the NBA Summer LeagueCredit: Getty
“Really excited to start something in DC,” Poole, 25, told The U.S. Sun after appearing at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Sarr, 19, has been firmly in charge of his destiny from early into his playing days until pretty much the day the Wizards selected the Bordeaux native at No. 2 overall in June.
The French center decided to follow a different path than his older brother, Olivier, who made it to the NBA after playing college basketball at Wake Forest and Kentucky.
Sarr left France to play for Real Madrid’s youth team in Spain before turning pro at age 16 to join the newly established Overtime Elite league in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2021.
Two years later, he traveled across the world to spend his pre-draft season with the Perth Wildcats in Australia’s National Basketball League.
With the draft approaching, Sarr made a leverage play, deciding not to attend a private workout with the Atlanta Hawks, who owned the No. 1 pick, as he reportedly preferred to play for Washington.
The plot was successful and, all those air miles later, he got to put on an NBA jersey in Wizards colors to kick off his Summer League run against Zaccharie Risacher’s Hawks in a clash of the two top picks.
“It feels great,” Sarr told The U.S. Sun a few days later, describing what he felt now that he was part of the Association.
“It was a lifelong dream. Now we’re just gonna put the work in and, you know, be an NBA player.”
Sarr would show what most of his scouting reports said —that he’s an elite, versatile defender and an athletic at-rim finisher with a high basketball IQ but still an unreliable jumper.
He would average 5.5 points while shooting 19.1% from the field in addition to 7.8 rebounds and fifth-best 2.5 blocks per game.
But the Wizards rookie arrived in Vegas aware of his big-time upside, he suggested when asked about his goals for 2024-25.
“Just getting better every day and being a better player than I am right now,” Sarr said.
Sarr’s high ceiling was evident to Poole, as was the Frenchman’s fit with the Wizards — whose defense hasn’t ranked higher than No. 20 for six straight seasons.
“Really talented, a lot of potential,” the shooting guard said of his new teammate after Washington’s 109-91 loss to the Houston Rockets on July 14.
“He’s coming over to our team at the right time.
“We’re excited just to have him play his game and all grow together and learn.”
Poole reeled off a lengthy list of qualities when asked what Sarr could add to the roster on Day 1.
“He’s athletic. He’s lengthy. He can run. He’s a really good shot blocker,” he said.
“I think he just fits in with what direction we’re going in — a lot of young ballers, a lot of guys who can play, a lot of guys who have confidence.
“So just being able to kind of rally our guys together, get a really good group, just enjoy each other, gain chemistry.
“All being similar in age, just kind of going together would be super cool.”
