Alex Sarr enters his sophomore season with high expectations not only from the Washington Wizards and their fanbase, but himself.
The former No. 2 overall pick showed flashes throughout his rookie campaign that suggested he could be a building block Washington could pencil into their future plans moving forward.
Obviously, there were plenty of weaknesses in his game that the Wizards coaching staff hoped he could work on this offseason, but considering his age, skillset and raw talent, there was never any signs of worry from the Wizards staff.
The only signs of concern came after the 7-footer suffered a calf-injury with Team France earlier in the offseason during FIBA EuroBasket play.
For Sarr, suiting up in both Summer League and EuroBasket play was the perfect opportunity for him to use increased reps against top competition to develop his game in what could have been a pivotal offseason for the young forward.
Unfortunately, his run in EuroBasket play came to an abrupt end after both Team France and Wizards medical officials agreed that his calf injury should cut his time playing internatiuonally short.
As many people know, a calf injury is not the type of injury that a return should be rushed.
Calf injuries are one of the most tricky injuries in sports and any minor setback could turn into a major issue down the line.
Looking at the injury in the NBA Finals for Tyrese Haliburton, it goes to show just how serious a calf issue can become if not treated in the right way.
For calf issues, the best remedy is taking time to return to the court.
Consideirng where the Wizards are as a team with no real expectations to make a run for a postseason spot, it was clear from the jump that Washington had no reason to rush the French product back to the court before he was 100%.
That said, many expected Sarr to miss the start of the regular season and take his time in his recovery.
However, the latest update on Sarr's injury is the best news possible that both Sarr and the fanbase could have hoped for.
Alex Sarr told reporters that he expects to play in tomorrow afternoon's preseason opener in Washington. Sarr had been sidelined with a left calf injury that he sustained during EuroBasket, but he has been ramping up over the last week.
— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) October 11, 2025
With Sarr set to suit up in the Wizards first preseason game on Sunday, it looks as if the big man will avoid missing any time to start the season after recovering quickly from his calf injury.
Considering the possibility that the calf injury could have lingered into the season, Sarr's ability to suit up on Sunday proves the team's medical staff has no concerns about potential issues.