Washington Wizards rookie Alex Sarr is already an elite rim protector, as he’s tied for fourth within the NBA with 2.4 blocks per recreation up to now. Nonetheless, the France worldwide can be passionate about his attacking recreation.
Sarr did a self-assessment for that facet of the ball up to now in observe.
“I really feel like I am getting higher each recreation, discovering my spots, studying the place to assault, so I am fairly assured about that,” he mentioned.
Sarr is averaging 10.5 factors per recreation on 36.5% capturing this 12 months with 2.2 assists, together with a 21.2% clip from past the arc and 71.4% from the charity stripe. The No. 2 general decide scored a career-high 20 factors on 7-of-13 capturing (3-4, 3-pointers) in Friday’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
Sarr was recruited above all for his protectionand he delivered on that facet of the ball. Along with his blocking prowess, the 19-year-old has recorded a steal in seven of his 11 video games performed so far, culminating with three towards the Hawks on Friday.
If Sarr may also grow to be a terrific higher echelon scorer, he will probably be a cornerstone of the franchise for years to come back.
The Wizards could not have hoped for a greater begin from Alex Sarr
Though the season continues to be younger, Sarr has already improved his capturing effectivity. The seven-foot, 205-pounder shot 29.7 p.c from the sector in October, however has a 39.7 p.c mark up to now in November.
Wizards head coach Brian Keefe was proud of Sarr’s effort towards Hawks, by way of the group’s YouTube channel.
“I feel one of many issues that was nice about Alex was his exercise,” Keefe mentioned. “Steals, blocked pictures, offensive rebounds. Generally it simply enables you to take good pictures.
Along with his 20 factors and 4 steals, Sarr additionally had seven rebounds, two assists and three blocks in 31 minutes. It was not solely the lottery decide’s greatest outing of his younger profession, nevertheless it was additionally an early instance of his potential to influence the sport in a number of methods, even when he is not capturing the lights out each night.
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“I feel the one factor that is nice about Alex is he would not waver and he is by no means wavered since I have been with him,” Keefe continued. “He continues to play, he continues to compete. The shot would not go in, it would not have an effect on how he performs on the opposite finish of the court docket. He’s a man who can transfer on to the subsequent possession. It is actually mature for somebody his age to have the ability to try this. This can be a nice high quality that he possesses.
It is simple for younger gamers to be sheepish after they do not at all times mild up the scoreboard. Nonetheless, by way of his confidence and dedication, Sarr stays an efficient rebounder and defender even when pictures aren’t falling. Because of this, he can have nights like he did on Friday.
“On the finish of the day, it’s important to hold capturing,” Sarr mentioned. “I really feel such as you simply have to remain assured in your recreation.”
Any participant chosen within the lottery has expertise to spare, however what units the perfect aside is their psychological toughness. Sarr has already proven his rebounding capacity on nights like Wednesday towards the San Antonio Spurs, the place he made simply two of 9 pictures as celebrity huge man Victor Wembanyama scored his first profession 50-point recreation.
Washington could also be struggling at 2-9, however these flashes from younger gamers like Sarr present the rebuild goes based on plan.
