Alex Sarr Future Star Or Bust?

Alex Sarr’s future is unpredictable. The second overall pick hasn’t had an outstanding start to his career. What does his future hold? The 2024 draftee has had some considerable up-and-downs to start his first NBA season. Sarr hasn’t been overly impressive this season, especially compared to some of the other players picked behind him like Stephon Castle, Zach Edey and Jared McCain before his injury. Sarr has shown flashes of what could be a decent offensive pairing with Jordan Poole and an elite defensive big. With the pressure of being the second pick and a future cornerstone of the franchise on his shoulders, can Sarr truly become the next big man star the Wizards have been looking for, or will he become another short-lived dream for fans?

Alex Sarr Future Star or Bust?

Sarr’s Future Role in the NBA

The 7-foot center entered the league at just the right time for a guy with his size and potential skill set. Positionless players who have the ability to do a little bit of everything are en vogue. These type of players are beginning to show up all over the league. Recently players like Luka Doncic, LaMelo Ball, Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and most recently Victor Wembayama have not only been stars of the league, they have redefined their positions both offensively and defensively.

At times, Sarr has shown he can be a future name to add to this list and become a prominent figure on the youngest roster in the league. Sarr has been averaging 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists a game, and he has decent promise to become better as he better adjusts to the NBA. However, even with not a full season under his belt, Sarr has seen good and bad.

First Problems Showing

In the Summer League, Sarr was unimpressive. He went 0-15 in a single game and faced a lot of criticism offensively. At the time, people noted that Wembanyama shot 2-13 in a game and his season turned out to be one of the best that a rookie has ever had. However, Sarr is not Wembanyama. Fans were certainly worried. While worries on the defensive end have been diminished, questions still surround if his offensive game will become more consistent. Sarr is shooting 39.6% from the field and 31.4% from three, which are both far below league average. He is attempting about 11 shots a game, which are the third-most on the team for the season, and second-most for active guys on the roster. While offense hasn’t been Sarr’s strong suit so far this season, his defense is what shines.

Sarr’s Strengths

Sarr is currently 12th in the league in blocks (1.5) with a season high of five against the Lakers in January. His rebounding could use a little work. Averaging 6.5 rebounds a game as a 7-footer might not be a great look now, but with time developing his overall game, all of his stats will improve. His defensive capabilities and potential to grow on both ends of the floor outmatch any mistakes he can make. The Wizards should be all in trying to get Sarr and the other young guys reps. Especially after the half-season experiment with Jonas Valanciunas, Sarr should be seeing an uptick in production and more opportunities to hit the glass.

Star or Bust?

Obviously, Sarr has potential to grow and become a more complete player. It’s his first year in a league that is shifting landscapes rapidly. With a little more time to develop his skillset, Sarr will undoubtedly evolve his abilities and grow.