2024 NBA Draft: Alexandre Sarr’s Season Comes To An End
The Perth Wildcats finished the NBL campaign second in the regular season, but they ultimately ended up coming short in the playoffs as they fell to the Tasmania JackJumpers. Perth’s young star Alexandre Sarr finishes the season averaging 9.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.6 blocks and 0.4 steals in 18 minutes per game. He shot 50.2% from the field, 27.6% from behind the arc and 70.7% from the free throw line as he came off the bench in every game this season.
In the NBL playoffs, he averaged 7.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks. Sarr is currently projected to be the number one pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. His stats obviously don’t stand out so some might ask, why is he projected to be the number one overall pick if he doesn’t start and averages less than ten points per game?
For starters, professional leagues tend to value experience over young players which played a big factor in him being the sixth man for the Perth Wildcats. Sarr didn’t get a ton of on-ball opportunities and played a very limited role on the offensive end which led to him not putting up a ton of high-scoring games. It’s the eye test and how he looked when matched up against players similar to his age. Had Sarr played in college, there is a high likelihood he could have been a consensus No. 1 overall pick if he was able to showcase his full offensive arsenal.
Sarr is the second-best defensive prospect in the 2024 NBA Draft. His rim protection is elite as he provides great mobility, length, defensive instincts and great anticipation. The projected top overall pick finished second in the NBL in blocks per game while playing less than 20 minutes on average. Despite his skinny frame, he still can compete against bigger players. What makes Sarr unique is that he can defend out in space and effectively switch ball screens when needed. He brings a ton of defensive versatility.
Offensively Sarr shows flashes as a passer, pull-up shooter and spot-up shooter. He doesn’t quite excel as a creator or scorer but that has never been his game. The 7-foot-1 big man has the potential to be a great second scoring option for an NBA contender when he’s in his prime. As of right now, Sarr is at his best as a finisher. He has great touch inside the paint, he’s very athletic and is a great lob threat at all times.
As of today, Sarr is the favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick. Some teams that could be good destinations for the 7-foot-1 big man are the Washington Wizards, Memphis Grizzlies and Charlotte Hornets. What’s next for Sarr? The next thing for the young star is the NBA Draft Combine in May where we will get to see his official measurements, interviews and athletic testing results.
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