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Alex Sarr

Alex Sarr
Sarr with the Washington Wizards in 2024
No. 20 – Washington Wizards
PositionPower forward / center
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2005-04-26) 26 April 2005 (age 19)
Bordeaux, France
Listed height7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2024: 1st round, 2nd overall pick
Selected by the Washington Wizards
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–2022Team Overtime
2022–2023YNG Dreamerz
2023–2024Perth Wildcats
2024–presentWashington Wizards
Career highlights and awards
  • All-OTE Second Team (2023)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  France
FIBA U19 World Cup
Silver medal – second place 2023 Hungary Team
FIBA U17 World Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Spain Team

Alexandre Dam Sarr (/sɑːr/ SAR, French pronunciation: [alɛksɑ̃dʁ saʁ]; born 26 April 2005) is a French professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He plays the power forward and center positions. Sarr played for the French youth national team and the Perth Wildcats of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) prior to being selected second overall by the Wizards in the 2024 NBA draft. He is the younger brother of basketball player Olivier Sarr.

Early life

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Sarr was born on 26 April 2005 in Bordeaux, France.[1][2] He grew up in a family of basketball players, initially in Bordeaux and then later Toulouse.[3] He started playing basketball at the age of four.[4] In 2019, Sarr joined the Spanish club Real Madrid Baloncesto and played two seasons for their youth team.[5][6]

Professional career

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Overtime Elite (2021–2023)

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In 2021, Sarr moved to the United States to join the newly established Overtime Elite league in Atlanta, securing him an alternative professional pathway with a guaranteed minimum salary of at least $100,000 per year.[5][7] He played two seasons at Overtime Elite, the first with Team Overtime[8] and the second with YNG Dreamerz.[9] He earned second-team All-OTE honours in 2022–23.[10]

Perth Wildcats (2023–2024)

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On 9 May 2023, Sarr signed with the Perth Wildcats of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL), joining the team as part of the league's Next Stars program for the 2023–24 season.[6][11] He entered the season as a highly touted draft prospect.[12] On 28 December, he sustained a hip strain in a game against the Adelaide 36ers and subsequently missed the next four weeks.[13][14][15] On 27 January 2024, he recorded a new career record, scoring 18 points and five blocks in a 103–91 win over the South East Melbourne Phoenix.[16] He finished the season with averages of 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 0.9 assists in 17 minutes per game,[17][18][19] helping Perth reach the NBL play-off semifinals.[18]

Washington Wizards (2024–present)

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Sarr declared for the 2024 NBA draft on 12 April 2024.[18] On 26 June, he was selected second overall by the Washington Wizards.[19][20][20] Sarr was picked alongside fellow Frenchmen Zaccharie Risacher (drafted first overall by the Atlanta Hawks) and Tidjane Salaün (drafted sixth by the Charlotte Hornets), making France the first foreign nation to have at least three players picked in the top 10 spots of any NBA draft.[19][21] On 6 July, he signed his rookie contract with the Wizards.[22] Sarr averaged 5.5 points and 7.8 rebounds in four NBA Summer League games; he had two points, five rebounds, one assist, and two blocks in his NBA debut on 24 October.[23][24] He was named December's Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month.[25]

National team career

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In 2021, Sarr debuted for the French junior national team[26] and helped them win the FIBA U16 European Challengers.[27] He helped France earn bronze at the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup[6] and silver at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup.[28][29]

Career statistics

[edit]
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBL

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2023–24 Perth 27 0 17.3 .516 .286 .710 4.3 .9 .4 1.5 9.4

Personal life

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Sarr is of Senegalese descent.[30] His father Massar is a former professional basketball player from Senegal, while his older brother Olivier played for the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder.[7][18]

References

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  1. ^ "Alexandre Dam SARR". fiba.basketball. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023.
  2. ^ Akinsola, Luke (21 November 2023). "Beyond the Hardwood: Frenchman Alex Sarr drawing international attention". NBA.com. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023.
  3. ^ Pantel-Jouve, Gabriel (9 May 2023). "Alexandre Sarr va démarrer sa carrière à Perth, en Australie". bebasket.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 9 May 2023.
  4. ^ "ALEX SARR - We Got Next". YouTube. Perth Wildcats. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Ex-Real Madrid prospect Alexandre Sarr is the first European οf Overtime Elite League". eurohoops.net. 1 July 2021. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "French sensation Alexandre Sarr joins the Perth Wildcats". Wildcats.com. 9 May 2023. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023.
  7. ^ a b Zagoria, Adam (1 July 2021). "Overtime Elite League Signs First European Player In Alexandre Sarr". Forbes.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Team Overtime". overtimeelite.com. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  9. ^ "YNG Dreamerz". overtimeelite.com. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Alexandre Sarr". overtimeelite.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023.
  11. ^ Robinson, Chris (9 May 2023). "Alexandre Sarr: Perth Wildcats sign French teenager on Next Stars deal". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023.
  12. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (23 September 2023). "NBA scouts vow to be in Australia all season watching Perth Wildcats Next Star Alex Sarr playing in NBL". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  13. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (6 January 2024). "Perth Wildcat Alex Sarr and potential NBA number one pick set to spend time on the sidelines with injury". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 6 January 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  14. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (12 January 2024). "Perth Wildcat Alex Sarr is only one week away from returning from a hip injury in huge boost for club". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  15. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (24 January 2024). "Perth Wildcats' Next Star Alex Sarr to return to NBL action during game against Illawarra Hawks". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  16. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (27 January 2024). "Perth Wildcats beat South East Melbourne Phoenix to clinch NBL finals spot as Alex Sarr has a night out". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  17. ^ "NBL24 season review - Alex Sarr". Wildcats.com.au. 28 March 2024. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024.
  18. ^ a b c d Givony, Jonathan (13 April 2024). "Alex Sarr, projected top-3 pick, declares for 2024 NBA draft". ESPN.com.au. ESPN. Archived from the original on 13 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  19. ^ a b c "NBA Draft: French players Risacher, Sarr and Salaün make history in New York". Le Monde. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  20. ^ a b Trister, Noah (26 June 2024). "Washington Wizards take French 7-footer Alex Sarr with the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  21. ^ Delafolie, Gaëtan (27 June 2024). "Risacher et Sarr au sommet, Salaün dans le top 10 : draft NBA historique pour la France". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  22. ^ Adams, Luke (6 July 2024). "Wizards Sign First-Rounders Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George". HoopsRumors.com. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  23. ^ "Alex Sarr Player Profile, Washington Wizards - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  24. ^ "Celtics 122-102 Wizards (Oct 24, 2024) Box Score". ESPN. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  25. ^ "Alex Sarr Named Eastern Conference Rookie Of The Month". NBA.com. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  26. ^ "Alexandre Dam Sarr". fiba.basketball. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023.
  27. ^ Feldman, Joseph (2 May 2022). "Sarr Named to U17 French National Team Select". overtimeelite.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023.
  28. ^ "Spain on top of the world again – outlast France in OT thriller for second title". fiba.basketball. 2 July 2023. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023.
  29. ^ Woods, Dan (3 July 2023). "Sarr's Star Performance at World Cup". NBL.com.au. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023.
  30. ^ "NCAA: Olivier Sarr quitte Wake Forest pour rejoindre Kentucky !" (in French). News Basket BeAfrika. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
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