Last night, the Atlanta Hawks matched up against the Washington Wizards in the NBA 2k25 summer league. This was particularly eventful because we saw the top two picks in the 2024 NBA Draft (Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr) matchup head-to-head for the first time. The game stayed close throughout, but the Wizards pulled away a victory at the end, 94-88. Here are some initial takeaways from Sarr’s first-ever NBA action.
Takeaways From Alex Sarr’s Debut in Summer League
Defensive Potential
Sarr had an all-around good performance. However, the place where he wowed people was on the defensive end. Sarr finished the night with 12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks, and a steal. The blocks were definitely the highlights of Sarr’s performance, as he made swatting shots look effortless. On one possession, he blocked a shot, only to recover and block another attempt just a few seconds later. Then, in the next possession that his team was on defense, he blocked another shot! He won’t always be the tallest player on the court once he gets to the NBA (ex. Victor Wembanyama), but for this matchup, he looked like a giant. Of course, it’s important that the story isn’t all in the shots; Sarr, like many other athletic centers, deters opponents from coming into the paint and taking high-percentage shots. This doesn’t show up on the stat sheet, yet it’s a valuable skill that every team desires.
Sarr’s Stellar Offensive
Even though defense might be the highlight of Sarr’s game, he showed out on the offensive end as well. During one particularly impressive play, Sarr dribbled the ball upcourt in transition and maneuvered around his defender in midair for the layup. He showcased impressive handles for someone his side, having some even compare certain moves to Kevin Durant. Sarr also shot the ball well from three (40%), a point of semi-concern coming into the draft. Both of his threes were even a one-dribble pull-up, even more impressive. However, not all his buckets came from three. Sarr also had a nice turnaround mid-range jumper, and two buckets near the basket.
The scoring wasn’t all, however. Sarr also displayed good court vision, making the right reads to his teammates. He showcased a little bit of everything that people were hoping they would see, a great first summer league game. The only question now is which way his game will change in the next few years. Sarr has the body and potential to become a Kevin Durant-type shooter, ball handler, and playmaker, or put on lots of muscle and become the next Giannis Antetokounmpo. It’ll be interesting to see what he and the Wizards organization decide to do.
The Other Rookies
As great as Sarr was, he wasn’t the only Wizards rookie that impressed people in this game. Carlton “Bub” Carrington, the Wizards other lottery pick, had an incredible game against the Hawks. Perhaps even more impressive than Sarr, Carrington almost had a triple-double, ending with 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. He did it efficiently too, shooting 50% from the field and 4-for-8 from three! Carrington scored the first points of the game in about 10 seconds and didn’t slow up for the rest of the night. He knocked down shots, made plays for his teammates, and showcased speed on both ends of the court.
While those two rookies were definitely the highlight, late first-rounder Kyshawn George had a solid performance as well. Coming off the bench, George had seven points, five assists, three rebounds, and two steals, a solid all-around performance. If the Wizards rookies can keep playing this well, then they could legitimately have a chance at the Summer League championship. Whether they win it or not, however, one thing is clear: the early signs are there that Will Dawkins did a great job in the 2024 NBA Draft.
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