The Washington Wizards held their first preseason game on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors.
Following a lackluster night on the court, the team looks poised for a long season ahead following the performance from the Wizards. Despite the blowout loss for Washington, there are some positives from the team’s first preseason game.
No. 2 overall pick shines in his Wizards debut
The Wizards selected Alex Sarr with a top-three pick in this year’s draft hoping for the versatile big man to be the centerpiece of their rebuild moving forward. After a rough outing throughout the Summer League, it was hard to place too much confidence in the rookies' expectations entering the season.
However, on Sunday, the 19-year-old showed why Washington selected him with their top draft pick.
Sarr finished his preseason debut with 15 points, four assists, and three rebounds while shooting 75% from field goal range and knocking down three of four attempts beyond the arc. In addition, the 7-footer added a block on the defensive end while showing his ability to defend at the next level.
The French product not only showed that he has what it takes to perform with the top players in the league, but he also proved that his poor performance in the Summer League may have been blown out of proportion.
With his ability to score from all over the floor while also showing his capability as a facilitator, he could play a pivotal role in the Wizards' offense ahead of the season. Being able to knock down shots will force the defense to account for him even while on the perimeter and his ability to be a playmaker will make him even more dangerous as an offensive threat,
Despite the young lineup, if Sarr can perform as he did against the Raptors on Sunday consistently all season, Washington has a chance to catch a lot of teams by surprise. As a centerpiece moving forward, the Wizards and rookie head coach Brian Keefe will make it a priority to allow Sarr the minutes he needs to advance his development from the jump.
Moving forward, Washington would like to build their franchise around Sarr and fellow Frenchman Bilal Coulibaly. That said, if Coulibaly can show promise in his sophomore season in the NBA, the Wizards' future looks promising moving forward.
Nonetheless, with a long season to go, Sarr has shown promise from the jump. However, the No. 2 overall pick still has to showcase his ability to compete at a high level for a full year.