Marcus Smart can already envision the final product once Washington Wizards rookie Alex Sarr puts it all together.
Sarr has experienced some growing pains in his first season in the NBA. He's averaging 12.5 points per game through 52 contests, which ranks second among rookies just behind Stephon Castle. But the Frenchman has struggled with efficiency, shooting just 39.3% from the field and 32.3% from beyond the arc.
At just 19 years old, there's no surprise that the slender 7-footer has had trouble scoring against grown men. He's been slighter further along on the defensive end, averaging 1.6 blocks per contest. Despite getting pushed around by the bigger bodies around the league at times, Sarr's defensive potential has been undeniable.
Smart certainly sees it. Last week, the former Defensive Player of the Year spoke to Monumental Sports' Chase Hughes about Sarr's defensive potential.
"You can't teach his size, first of all," Smart said of Sarr. "His size and athleticism; he doesn't move like a big. That helps him. I definitely like his defense. Obviously, he's young and he's got a lot to go, but he's on the right track. He's definitely on the right rack. Once he fully understands his size and what he can do, I think he'll be a nightmare."
Sarr has swatted 14 shots over his last seven games, including a four-block outing in a 129-125 win against the Detroit Pistons on March 13. In that contest, the young Wizards center got the game-sealing block, stuffing All-Star Cade Cunningham at the rim.
Sarr still has plenty of room for growth on the defensive end. The first order of business in the summer is getting in the weight room.
It's clear that his ceiling as a rim-protector is higher than any Wizards prospect in recent memory. Having Smart in Sarr's ear this early in the rookie's career is a huge bonus to help him get there.
Related: Washington Wizards: Bub Carrington Unveils New Nickname For Alex Sarr
Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published March 19, 2025 at 10:00 AM.