Alex Sarr entered the league with a chip on his shoulder and it all started after the narratives ran wild when the big man seemingly forced his way to the Washington Wizards at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Prior to the draft, Sarr was widely perceived as the top prospect available and looking back at how things stand as of now, it's safe to say that perception was accurate.
Nonetheless, the French product's reluctance to land with the Atlanta Hawks for reasons of his own only added to the pressure the big man already had to deliver early on, especially after dictating his landing spot in what was already considered a rather weak NBA Draft class as a whole.
Furthermore, after a disastrous showing in his NBA Summer League debut, the noise from the critics only got louder.
Fast forward to his rookie season, where the 7-footer seemingly strugged to excel in the areas of his game that most players his size thrive at with his lack of efficiency in the paint on the offensive end, the doubters seemed to think they were set to earn the last laugh.
However, Sarr's determiniation and work ethic allowed for the big man to put his head down and go to work this offseason. Between his time in the Summer League with the Wizards and the stretch with Team France during FIBA EuroBasket play, the 20-year-old continously worked on his craft.
Poised for a sophomore leap, Sarr quickly made it clear that the lack of confidence from his rookie season was gone and his belief in his skillset was ready to be put on full display.
Up to this point, the Wizards' rising star has proven exactly that, averaging 17.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.1 blocks, while shooting 49.6% from field goal range and 33.3% from beyond the arc.
In fact, Sarr's silenced the [noise from critics](https://wizofawes.com/alex-sarr-already-become-wizards-critics-swore-never) so much, that arguably the biggest critic of them all in former NBA Champion and current NBA Analyst Udonis Haslem just gave him his flowers.
Udonis Haslem apologizes to Alex Sarr
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On a recent episode of NBA on Prime, Haslem spoke out about the season Sarr is having in Washington.
Not only did the former Heat staple give Sarr praise, but he issues an apology not just from him, but the entire NBA world as a whole
"Alex Sarr, on behalf of the NBA world, we apologize," Haslem said. "We have been sleeping on you."
There's no doubt that after the season Sarr has put together, Haslem isn't probably the only mind around the league who's changed their opinion on the big man, but he may be the only one who's willing to openly admit that the young Wizard deserves an apology.
Sarr has overcome the disrespect and based off what he's showcased over the start to his sophomore season, it's safe to say that Washington found a [long-term piece](https://wizofawes.com/alex-sarr-role-washington-wizards-future-plans-becoming-impossible-ignore) to build around.