The entire NBA universe is making a huge deal out of how poorly Washington Wizards rookie Alex Sarr played in Summer League. The second-overall pick was awful, but it’s not the end of the world.
In four Summer League games, Sarr averaged 5.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists while shooting a horrendous 9-of-27 (19.1%) from the field and 2-of-17 (11.8%) from beyond the three-point line.
5 Star NBA players who played as bad as Wizards rookie Alex Sarr in Summer League
However, Summer League is Summer League for a reason. Is it a bit concerning that Sarr played that poorly? Definitely. But it’s not the end of the world.
Here are five stars (and/or star role players) who played about as bad as Sarr did in Summer League.
1. Coby White
When Coby White was a rookie, he was absolutely dreadful for the Chicago Bulls in Summer League. And while it’s more normal for guards to be inefficient, he was very rough.
In five games, White averaged 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.8 assists but shot just 33.7% from the field and 10.0% from distance. He also turned the ball over 3.8 times per game. He scored much more than Sarr, but the inefficiency was brutal.
2. Jalen Brunson
Just like White, Jalen Brunson dealt with a ton of efficiency issues in Summer League. And he was even worse than White was.
In five Summer League appearances, Brunson averaged 6.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists while shooting 22.7% from the floor and 30.0% from deep. He also turned the ball over three times per game.
3. Dorian Finney-Smith
Obviously, Dorian Finney-Smith isn’t the same level of player as Brunson or White, but the point is he was terrible in Summer League and still managed to find a ton of success in the NBA.
In six Summer League games in his rookie season, Finney-Smith averaged 2.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists while shooting 16.0% from the floor and 23.1% from deep.
4. Draymond Green
If Sarr can become a sliver of what Draymond Green is, that would be a win, and the four-time Golden State Warriors champion didn’t get off to a hot start in Summer League.
In five games, Green averaged 6.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 27.8% from the floor and 20.0% from behind the three-point line.
5. Al Horford
Before the Boston Celtics big man was draining threes and leading his team to an NBA Championship, he was playing in Summer League in 2007, and he did not perform well.
In four games, Horford averaged 9.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists but shot a woeful 34,2% from the floor. And that was before he shot threes.
The point is that players can be bad in Summer League but good in the NBA. Just because Sarr struggled in July doesn’t mean he’ll still be bad come October.