On Tuesday, ESPN released its annual ranking of the top 100 NBA players for the upcoming 2026-27 season, which tips off in less than a month.
While Wizards fans should be excited to see 2026 No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa crack the list at No. 78, third-year big man Alex Sarr was a glaring omission.
Washington fans are no strangers to their team and players being forgotten about or disregarded by mainstream NBA media. In defense of ESPN, Sarr has not yet played meaningful basketball through his first two seasons. Nevertheless, this is something that could be a blessing in disguise for the franchise big man.
Leaving Alex Sarr off the top 100 should be seen as disrespectful
After a rough rookie campaign, Sarr took a big leap last season. The 2024 No. 2 overall pick saw a big jump in his field goal percentage (FG%), as well as a climb in his three-point percentage, free-throw percentage, rebounds per game, assists per game, blocks, and points per game, proving that the Wizards were right to draft him.
That makes his exclusion from the top 100 list all the more puzzling. Unlike third-year guard/forward Kyshawn George, who was also left off, Alex Sarr was a blue-chip prospect who thus far has played up to expectations. Mix that with the arrival of four-time All-Star floor general Trae Young to Washington, whose calling card is getting others (particularly big men) involved with his playmaking, and Sarr has a clear path to being a top-100 player.
On the bright side, this development could help Sarr thrive.
Not making the list should motivate Alex Sarr
What better way to put a fire under Sarr than to leave him off this list? Instead, ESPN put him on a short list of players who just missed the cut.
Sarr is now playing next to the aforementioned Young and NBA 75th Anniversary Team member Anthony Davis, so he was already expected to take another step this season. But the seven-footer being left off the top 100 list should get Wizards fans even more excited to watch him in 2026-27.
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