Interview Alexandre Sarr (Wizards), number 2 in the 2024 Draft • Basket USA

Interview Alexandre Sarr (Wizards), number 2 in the 2024 Draft • Basket USA
Interview Alexandre Sarr (Wizards), number 2 in the 2024 Draft • Basket USA

Beginner’s mistake? Alexandre Sarr admits, it was better not to try to contact him Wednesday evening since he no longer had battery on his phone, while the messages must have been flooding in. Not enough to stop him from showing a frank smile when answering the first questions as a Wizards player. The French interior was chosen, unsurprisingly, as second choice by the Washington franchise. For his greatest pleasure.

Alex Sarr is formal, he expected ” to be taken in the Top 2“. This, while he had explained just before the evening of the first round that he had refused training with the Hawks, holders of the first choice, because everything was not just “ the matter of a workout« . « I’m pretty happy with the Wizards, it’s going to be special » he rejoiced as he left the podium. “ It’s a team that I watched a lot last season, they play very fast, with a lot of young players. It’s a style of play that suits me. I just want to impact the season, do the best I can, and play hard. It’s a great opportunity. »

Washington, new stage of its journey

« No matter where you get picked, you know the team is taking a chance on you, and I feel lucky, I’m not going to take it for granted » he also promised at a press conference. Among the Wizards, Alexandre Sarr will have free reign in the racket, stripped down in recent months by the departures of Kristaps Porzingis, then Daniel Gafford.

The former Perth Wildcats pivot will now be able to show his value, he who remains relatively unknown in France or even in the United States after his journey between the Real Madrid training center, the Overtime Elite program and Australia. “ I left for Spain when I was 14, obviously I didn’t play professionally in France. But I think the French basketball public still knows me. It’s a different path that has helped me a lot, and of which I’m very proud. I left home hoping to experience a moment like tonight. It’s very rewarding. »

In a few weeks he will meet his compatriot and new teammate Bilal Coulibaly, for an enticing French connection. “ Make France shine? Maybe, I don’t really know. What I know is that French basketball is growing, more and more French players are arriving in the NBA, it’s super exciting. »

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