Projected As the No. 1 Pick for NBA 2024, Who’s Alex Sarr?

The French baller Alex Sarr has grabbed all eyeballs with his exemplary performance in the National Basketball League (NBL) for the Perth Wildcats. The Wildcats won their recent game against the Taipans in which he smoked 11 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.

His array of exceptional performances has put him on center stage with many experts including ESPN’s Johnathan Givony projecting him as the No. 1 2024 draft pick.

Alex Sarr’s formative years

Sarr was born in Bordeaux, France on April 26, 2005. His father Massar was a basketball player for Senegal. He has a family of basketball players and the game runs in his genes. He was attracted to the game since the tender age of 4 and followed his father’s footsteps.

Not many know but his elder brother Olivier plays for the Oklahoma City. The square-offs with his brother gave rise to a competitive spirit in Alex. As per the NBA website, Olivier reminisced about those days and stated that “Everyday we were competing – in a good way, not even on the court.”

Olivier also recounted that he is “six years older” and Alex would “take it personal.” Alex always had that spirit of not being “scared of anything.” As per the same website, Alex believes it was his parents and older brother who helped him develop a success-oriented attitude. His father’s Senegalese roots instilled a level of discipline in the kids. 

It was his fierce spirit that caught the attention of Real Madrid’s Cadet A employees in Spain and they signed Sarr. The French baller spent two years playing for the club. The same organization is responsible for the rise of the NBA star Luka Doncic who is making headlines in the NBA and this gave Sarr a lot of hope that he too could ply his trade for one of the best leagues in the world someday.

Apart from his father and brother, the 18-year-old also credits Izan Almansa for his growth since the two used to “play” with each other during his Real Madrid days. Sarr also remarked that the two would “push each other” during practice and coincidentally also “played two games against each other at the G League Invitational.” However, it was his career with the Perth Wildcats that became the turning point for him.

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Perth Wildcats

Sarr then went onto join the Perth Widlcats of the National Basketball League (NBL). He inked a deal in the league’s ‘Next Stars’ program and proved his calibre to the world by battling it out against the Ignite in September. The Ignite team included first-round prospects namely Ron Holland and Izan Almansa. Furthermore, Sarr’s chances of success in the NBA were accomplished when two of the ‘Next Stars’ program mentees LaMelo Ball and Josh Giddey were drafted by the NBA.

Notably, Sarr showed his prowess in the two games basketing 17 points with 7 rebounds and 6 blocks in his team’s 124-105 loss against the Ignite. He also shot two three-pointers during the game which is a testament to his shooting skills. Additionally, Sarr besotted 26 points in the second game, nabbing 10 rebounds in the process. Thus he averaged a double-double. Other noteworthy stats included his 6 blocks and a 10-for-14 shooting that propelled his team to a 127-112 victory over his rivals. This game clearly showed what Sarr could do and how he was a special player for his team.

“This is my first year playing professionally and I’m just getting used to it. It’s way more physical. Everybody’s stronger and there’s a lot more bumps and possessions in a game. I’m pretty happy with how it’s coming out so far and I’m hoping to keep it going,” Sarr quipped. Meanwhile, Sarr’s dreams do not end here.

Sarr’s international career

France has become a nation with exceptional basketballers including Tony Parker, Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama. This only makes Sarr’s climb through the ranks all the more special. He has previously won a bronze medal at the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup in Spain. The tall center also clinched the silver medal at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup in Hungary.

He has shown his balling skills and finesse such that he has professional experience in three continents. He wants to show a new side of his country to the world by presenting its balling culture. He revealed that the “basketball culture in France is big.” And he wants to be a part of the “French Olympic team next summer.” He also divulged that he anticipates the French team to be at the helm of things in European basketball because of their ever-expanding balling culture and the abundance of talent at the grass root levels. This could make them one of the best in the years to come and “compete for the gold medal in every tournament.”

As per Perth Now, Sarr will stay with the Perth Wildcats till the championship is over. Though NBA scouts are watching his games, Sarr expressed that his “goal is to make the play-offs and get the furthest I can.” Sarr noted that his stamina has improved and he can “play longer with a higher motor.” As per the same news, Sarr indicated that taking the professional basketball route has helped his game a lot rather than giving conventional college basketball a chance.

His brother Olivier expressed hope for Alex’s bright future. According to him “sky’s the limit.” Hopefully, Sarr will play in the NBA soon and fulfill his dream of becoming a star basketball player just like his brother.

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