The Washington Wizards are coming off arguably their worst loss of the season falling to 1-7 after a 136-107 beatdown by the Boston Celtics.
Obviously, being blown out on the road is never fun, and it makes things extremely difficult to pull any wins away from a brutal loss, especially this early in the season.
However, the Wizards early struggles are being overshadowed by the fact that the team may finally have a star blossoming in Washington after years of swinging big with empty results.
Alex Sarr is ready to take on the challenge
Following his rookie season, the overwhelming thoughts surrounding Alex Sarr was that the big man simply just didn't have what it takes to be the star Washington selected him to be.
The big man struggles in the areas he should thrive at, and his inefficient offensive play was the most concerning part of his game.
Nonetheless, his flashes as a defensive anchor made fans believe that at the worst, the lengthy forward could be a reliable defender for years to come.
A role player with the upside to develop into a starter for the future.
Fast forward to now, Sarr looks to be much more than just a role player.
To start the season, the big man has looked like a completely different player and a large reason for his success is the fact that he's playing with a newfound confidence.
Sarr is coming off his best game of the season, finishing with 31 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists, while shooting 12/20 from field goal range and 4/5 from beyond the arc.
In addition, the emerging two-way star added three blocks to his impressive night on the defensive end.
Following his standout performance, Sarr's season averages currently sit at 19 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists, including an efficient 54% from field goal range and 45.5% from three.
Sarr's drastic improvement from last season not only proves that he has the ability to reach the potential he entered the league with, but that he's ready to take on the challenge of being the Wizards go-to guy this season.
Considering the fanbase entered the season hoping to see some sort of improvment from the second-year player, the fact that he seems ready to be the guy is a major win in its own right.
Sarr is not only proving his doubters wrong with his start to the season, but he's proving the Wizards front office right for their decision to select him with the No. 2 overall pick last offseason.