Wizards’ Rebuild Taking Shape with Alex Sarr’s Emerging Two-Way Potential

January 2, 2025

There’s no sugarcoating it — Alex Sarr faced some serious fire last summer. His performance in the NBA Summer League, particularly his 0-of-15 outing against the Portland Trail Blazers, left him open to the harshest critiques.

As David Aldridge of The Athletic pointed out, it was the most shots missed in a Summer League game since 2017. Yet, amid all the laughs and memes, few focused on the real story—the process, not the results.

For the Washington Wizards, the mission was clear: help Sarr develop, and above all, encourage him to get comfortable with the NBA 3-point line.

Fast-forward to December, and the 19-year-old Sarr is beginning to show flashes of the two-way potential Washington saw in him when they made him the second pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

As Aldridge highlighted, after 30 games entering Wednesday, Sarr is second among rookies in scoring (11.6 points per game), tied for third in rebounding (6.1), and leads all rookies in blocked shots per game (1.8). But it’s not just the numbers—it’s how he’s improved.

In December, Sarr’s shooting has been markedly better. He went from hitting just 25.9% on catch-and-shoot 3s in November to a blistering 46.3% in December. His shot mechanics have looked smoother, and the repetition is clearly paying off.

It’s a significant leap, as Aldridge noted, and speaks to the mental fortitude Sarr has shown in sticking with the process, despite early struggles.

“Whether I was missing them or not the first month, I didn’t stop taking them,” Sarr said, underscoring the growth mindset that Washington is trying to foster in their young players.

Wizards head coach Brian Keefe emphasized how Sarr is becoming more comfortable, especially on offense, and his playmaking has shown improvement. He’s become more than just a dunker or shot-blocker. He’s making good decisions in transition and has started driving to the basket with more confidence.

Still, as Aldridge mentioned, Sarr’s offense remains a work in progress. He can be shaky around the rim, and his consistency catching the ball in the paint still needs work.

This is where the Wizards’ strategy comes into play. Under the guidance of general manager Will Dawkins and the front office, Washington is following the OKC model—investing in high-ceiling talent and getting them NBA-ready as soon as possible. Sarr, alongside fellow rookies like Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George, has been thrown into the fire, playing major minutes despite the Wizards’ 5-25 record.

The hope here is that by getting these players valuable experience early, Washington can build a core that, in a few years, will lead the franchise into a new era.

The fact that Sarr has spent time guarding players like Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns, and at times holding his own, shows the faith the team has in his potential as a versatile defender. And though he’s still prone to rookie mistakes, as Aldridge pointed out, there are flashes of what he could become.

With veterans like Jonas Valančiūnas providing a steady hand in the locker room and on the floor, Sarr is getting the mentorship he needs to thrive in the NBA. Valančiūnas, who’s been instrumental in Sarr’s development, has been a steady presence for the rookie, leading by example both on and off the court.

Ultimately, the Wizards’ rebuild may not show immediate results in the win column, but the franchise’s long-term vision is taking shape.

As Aldridge noted, the hope is that by the 2028-29 season, with their young core fully developed and new talent from the upcoming drafts added to the mix, the Wizards will have the foundation of a contender.

For now, though, it’s all about the incremental growth of players like Sarr, who are learning and improving, one possession at a time.