Alex Sarr Quickly Becoming Three-Point Threat

If you told Wizards fans in mid-spring that they would land Alex Sarr in the 2024 NBA Draft, they would have been ecstatic.

He carried the most promise of any prospect to develop into a high-level defensive anchor with a 7-foot-1 frame, a 7-foot-5 wingspan and the lateral quickness to defend anyone on the basketball court and cover the spaces in between.

We all saw the clip of him locking up fellow top prospect Ron Holland on the perimeter, and we all started salivating over his potential. 

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Alex Sarr’s Offense Needed Work

Sarr’s offensive skill set, though, left some to be desired. He wasn’t strong enough to bang alongside other centers to be an ace rebounder or post-presence out of the gate, nor did he possess the self-creation to invite comparisons to Victor Wembanyama. His best trait in the halfcourt was his willingness to take three-pointers, though he wasn’t making many of them.

Despite those well-known limitations, he successfully took advantage of a draft cycle lacking anyone with superstar upside, no Wembanyama or Cooper Flagg to bump everyone else down a tier.

In the months before the draft, the Frenchman flirted with consensus top-pick status, personally derailing the Hawks’ decision to take him first overall by refusing to work out for them. The Wiz happily snatched him at No. 2, a team already looking to build around young athletes with high defensive upside.

The big and his jumper — still a work in progress — made a poor first impression, as he struggled to create good looks for himself against the relatively low-level Summer League competition. Fans saw his wildly inefficient scoring outputs, including one particularly dreadful 0-for-15 shooting performance, and worried whether his mechanics would support a functional shot.

He takes his time when lining up to shoot, crouching low before taking the ball up alongside the right side of his body. His release point rests closer to the back of his head than above his face as he flings the ball, hitch and all, but he at least has his routine down pat.

It’s consistent for what it is, and he shoots it with the confidence of someone who should be hanging out by the perimeter.

The early returns of the regular season weren’t as putrid as his summer results, but he wasn’t exactly looking like Karl-Anthony Towns from behind the arc. 

His first 15 games weren’t pretty, at least as a scorer, where he shot 20% from long-range on over four shots per game. If he wouldn’t be aggressive scoring down low, he had to be at least somewhat threatening as a pick-and-popper.

Sarr’s defense, meanwhile, was just as jaw-dropping as advertised. He quickly elevated into the best stopping rookie, enough of a defender to earn him the leeway to figure out how he fits in on offense as he goes.

Breakout Time

His breakthrough performance arrived in his second-ever 20-point game, where he shot four for five from outside. He relocated to the perimeter and shot when he was open, making all the right reads and mixing in enough of his cuts and rim finishes to force the Bulls into respecting his multifaceted game.

The young Wizard has made at least one three in all 11 games since then, including a hot 11-for-22 stretch in his last four outings. He will only see his scoring average climb, now sitting at 11.4 points per game after averaging 10 across those first 15 games.

He finally scraped past the 30% threshold after another 50% deep-ball shooting day in a win against the Hornets. There, we saw how his willingness to spread the floor opens passing lanes and stretches opposing rim protectors out to contest him.

Sarr’s improving outside shot only adds to his developing arsenal, one that is plenty deserving of a top draft pick. His eagerness to play like a big wing compliments his turnaround midrange jumper, transition finishing and lob catching, positive passing vision, and defensive instincts. He is the player who may one day carve out a crucial role on a contending team. 

For now, he will continue quietly improving in Washington. After all, that is why he tanked his way out of going to Atlanta: to prioritize a development-friendly situation like the fledgling Wizards, free from any pressure to win now.

Alex Sarr has been one of the most pivotal pieces to the young core, everything they drafted and more.