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Josh Robbins: Although Alex Sarr will miss the remainder of the EuroBasket tournament because of a left calf injury, Wizards officials expect that he'll be ready for the start of the season, a team source said. The injury will not require surgery.
Greg Finberg: Wizards F Alex Sarr will miss the rest of EuroBasket with a calf injury, France announced. Sarr missed France’s last game with a calf muscle injury that will now hold him out for the remainder of the tournament.
The last defeat of France to Israel in a Eurobasket dates back to 1997. Alex Sarr wasn’t used due to a minor injury.
Guard Frank Ntilikina, forward Ousmane Dieng and forward Moussa Diabate were cut from the French national team roster ahead of the EuroBasket, the French Federation announced. The roster of France now has 14 players: Isaia Cordinier (Virtus Segafredo Bologna), Bilal Coulibaly (Washington Wizards), Sylvain Francisco (Zalgiris), Nadir Hifi (Paris), Jaylen Hoard (Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv), Mouhammadou Jaiteh (Dubai), Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (Baskonia), Theo Maledon (Real Madrid), Elie Okobo (AS Monaco), Vincent Poirier (Anadolu Efes), Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks), Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards), Matthew Strazel (AS Monaco) and captain Guerschon Yabusele (New York Knicks).
Alex Sarr scored 19 points in just 13:49 as France beat Montenegro 81 – 75 in their first preparation game ahead of the 2025 EuroBasket. It took Sarr 13:49 to lead France in scoring during his debut with the senior national team. The Washington Wizards center also had four rebounds. Nikola Vucevic led Montenegro with 19 points, six rebounds and four assists. Marko Simonovic dropped 14 points.
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Josh Lewenberg: The Raptors have signed French big man Olivier Sarr to an exhibit 10 deal. The 7-footer (and brother of Wizards big/former 2nd pick Alex Sarr) will compete for a spot in training camp. He spent last season in the G League after playing 46 games for OKC over the previous 3 years.
Chase Hughes: Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson III and Will Riley are all OUT tonight against the Sixers, per the team. Johnson III is out with right hamstring tightness, Riley with left thumb soreness. They're day-to-day. Starters: AJ Johnson, Leaky Black, Dillon Jones, Jamir Watkins, Liam Robbins
Moussa Diabate, Ousmane Dieng, and Alex Sarr on new-look France
Keith Pompey: Sources say the Washington Wizards hope Ace Bailey’s refusal to work out for teams during the pre-draft process will cause him to slide. A source said Washington benefited from the same approach last season with Alex Sarr. The French player refused to work out for the Atlanta Hawks, who had the first pick in the draft. After the Hawks passed on the projected No. 1 pick, the Wizards selected him second. The Wizards have been impressed by the 18-year-old Bailey for some time. Sources say they’re not concerned about his perceived poor shot selection this season at Rutgers. Some Washington executives had Bailey rated higher than expected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg in high school. Sixers weigh NBA draft options at No. 3: Ace Bailey, VJ Edgecombe, or someone else? Wizards hope Bailey falls to them.
In his first season, Alex Sarr showed flashes of the two-way force many envisioned when he entered the league as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-10 forward for the Washington Wizards earned a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team while growing into one of the league’s most promising defenders. But according to Sarr, his rookie year development was about much more than box score production. “I feel like kind of everything,” Sarr told RG. “Defensively, I think physicality. Offensively, trying to get to the rim more, more drives. So I think that’s how I developed the most, for sure.”
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Chase Hughes: Marcus Smart says he’s had several conversations with Alex Sarr to help him become a more physical player. “We’re working on that… he can be a great defender.”
But as Sarr, the No. 2 pick in last year’s draft, approaches the end of his challenging first season with the Wizards, he said he believes he has earned consideration for rookie of the year. “I definitely belong in that conversation,” Sarr said by telephone last week. “That’s not up to me. Everything is out there: the games and the stats. We’ll see what happens at the end. I’ve been constantly improving through the season, and I’m finishing out strong, trying to keep building that momentum.”
NBA Communications: Other nominees... West: Donovan Clingan (POR), Isaiah Collier and Kyle Filipowski (UTA), Zach Edey (MEM) and Quinten Post (GSW) East: Matas Buzelis (CHI), Justin Edwards (PHI), Alex Sarr (WAS), Jamal Shead (TOR) and Kel’el Ware (MIA)
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