Alex Sarr is a unicorn. Or at least, that’s what the Washington Wizards are betting their entire rebuild on. When you’re 7-foot-1 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan and move like a wing, people expect magic the second you step on the hardwood. But if you followed the alex sarr preseason stats from his debut run in 2024, you know it wasn't exactly a linear path to stardom. It was more of a rollercoaster.
People love to overreact to October basketball. Honestly, it’s a tradition at this point. One night a rookie looks like the next Kevin Garnett, and the next, fans are ready to use the "B" word—bust. With Sarr, the preseason was the ultimate "eye of the beholder" situation.
The Montreal Debut: When Everything Clicked
Let’s talk about that first game against the Toronto Raptors in Montreal. October 6, 2024. If you were a Wizards fan, this was basically Christmas.
Sarr walked onto the court and looked... comfortable. That’s the word. For a guy who had just come off a nightmare 0-for-15 shooting performance in the Las Vegas Summer League, the pressure was immense. But in just 22 minutes, he put up:
- 15 Points
- 6-of-8 Shooting
- 3-of-4 from Three
- 4 Assists
- 1 Block
The stat line was pretty, sure. But the way he got those points mattered more. He wasn't just camping in the paint waiting for lobs. He was trailing in transition and knocking down triples. He was making "no-dip" corner threes like a veteran wing. Jordan Poole found him for a top-of-the-key three after drawing the defense, and Sarr didn't hesitate. That confidence was a massive shift from the hesitant kid we saw in Vegas.
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Breaking Down the Alex Sarr Preseason Stats
When you look at the total sample size of those early exhibition games, the numbers paint a picture of a high-ceiling defender who is still figuring out his offensive identity. Across his 2024 preseason stint, Sarr averaged about 11.3 points per game while logging 23 minutes a night.
Efficiency is usually the bugaboo for young bigs who want to shoot, but he held his own. He shot 48.1% from the field and an eye-opening 53.8% from behind the arc. Now, let's be real: nobody expected a 7-footer to keep shooting 50% from deep forever. It was a hot streak. But it proved the mechanics were there.
Beyond the Scoring
If you only look at the points, you’re missing the point of Alex Sarr. His impact on the glass and the defensive end is what keeps him on the floor. He averaged:
- 4.3 Rebounds - 0.7 Blocks (though he altered way more shots than the box score showed)
- 1.3 Turnovers
The assist numbers were the most "sneaky" part of his game. Averaging over 2 assists as a rookie center in limited minutes is legit. He has this vision—a way of seeing over the defense—that most bigs just don't develop until they're 25.
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What the Critics Got Wrong (And Right)
Naturally, the "0-for-15" ghost followed him. Social media doesn't forget. Every time Sarr missed a layup in preseason, the Summer League highlights would resurface.
Critics pointed to his rebounding. 4.3 boards per game for a 7-footer? It's low. Kinda concerning, actually. The Wizards were getting bullied on the glass, and Sarr's tendency to drift to the perimeter for threes meant he wasn't always in position to grab the rock.
But here’s the nuance: Washington wasn’t asking him to be Andre Drummond. They wanted him to be a mobile, switchable weapon. He was switching onto guards like Immanuel Quickley and staying in front of them. That’s a rare skill. Most centers look like they're wearing lead boots when they get pulled out to the 3-point line. Sarr looked like he belonged there.
The "Preseason Mirage" vs. Reality
We have to acknowledge the limitations of these stats. Preseason defense is... let's call it "optional" sometimes. Teams are running vanilla schemes. They aren't scouting a rookie's tendencies yet.
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However, the alex sarr preseason stats served as a necessary "reset" for his narrative. They proved that the Summer League struggles were a fluke of conditioning and nerves rather than a lack of talent. He showed he could play within a structured NBA offense—something that's impossible to do in the chaos of Vegas.
Actionable Insights for Wizards Fans and Fantasy Owners
If you're tracking Sarr's development or looking at him for a deep keeper league, here’s the reality of what those preseason numbers told us:
- Don't chase the PPG: Sarr is going to have nights where he scores 4 points. His value is tied to "stocks" (steals + blocks) and his ability to pass out of the high post.
- Watch the foul rate: One thing the stats don't always scream is that he was prone to "rookie whistles." He struggled with moving screens and reaching.
- The 3-point shot is a weapon, not a gimmick: He’s going to take 4 or 5 threes a game. If he hits 33%, he’s a massive win for the Wizards' spacing.
- Buy the defensive mobility: His ability to recover after being beaten is elite. Even when he's out of position, that wingspan makes up for a lot of mistakes.
The path for Sarr isn't about being a 20-10 guy right away. It's about becoming a defensive anchor who doesn't kill your spacing on the other end. Those early preseason games were the first real evidence that he's well on his way to doing exactly that.
To see how these trends held up, you should compare his preseason shooting splits with his actual rookie year field goal percentage, which settled much lower as the league's physical toll began to mount.