WASHINGTON Wizards guard Jordan Poole has vowed to help rookie Alex Sarr claim the NBA Rookie of the Year award.
The French 7-foot center will face tough competition in the race for the honor after an unpredictable draft that saw no clear No. 1 overall pick.
3
Washington Wizards guard Jordan Poole has said Alex Sarr’s new teammates will do his best to boost the Frenchman’s chances in the NBA Rookie of the Year raceCredit: Getty
3
Sarr struggled on offense during the Las Vegas Summer League but flashed a ton of defensive potentialCredit: Getty
3
The Wizards selected Sarr at No. 2 during the 2024 NBA DraftCredit: Getty
Sarr, 19, landed at No. 2 behind fellow Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher, who headed to the Atlanta Hawks.
The versatile big man had been touted as a potential top selection before refusing to work out for the Hawks due to Washington reportedly being his preferred destination.
Sarr and Risacher won’t be the only favorites for the ROTY award though.
Houston Rockets guard and No. 3 pick Reed Sheppard proved he’ll be in consideration with a stellar Summer League performance.
Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey, who was the ninth pick, and Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis, who went 11th, also boast high odds ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season tip-off.
But Poole, 25, told The U.S. Sun that the Wizards will have Sarr’s back.
“I mean, he’s the second pick,” the shooting guard said of his new teammate’s ROTY chances during the Las Vegas Summer League.
“We’re going to do what we can to put him in a position just to play his game, to show all of his strengths, and cover up his weaknesses as he learns and as he grows.
“We’re all extremely excited just to let him grow and become into himself, and really kind of fall in love with the city and play some really fun basketball.”
Sarr had an up-and-down Summer League, struggling on the offensive end while showing off his defensive prowess.
He averaged 5.5 points per game on 19.1% shooting in addition to 7.8 rebounds and fourth-best 2.5 blocks per game.
The Frenchman told The U.S. Sun he would work hard to become a better player every day during his rookie campaign.
And Poole looked thrilled to see Sarr grow, noting his high ceiling and saying he fits well with the young Wizards squad.
“He’s athletic. He’s lengthy. He can run. He’s a really good shot blocker,” the guard said.
Highest contracts in NBA history
Jayson Tatum
- , Celtics – 5 years, $314 million
Jaylen Brown
- , Celtics – 5 years, $285.4 million
Nikola Jokic
- , Nuggets – 5 years, $276.1 million
Bradley Beal
- , Suns – 5 years, $251 million (signed with Washington)
Anthony Edwards
- , Timberwolves – 5 years, $244.6 million
Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers – 5 years, $244.6 million
Per Spotrac
“I think he just fits in with what direction we’re going in — a lot of young ballers, a lot of guys who can play, a lot of guys who have confidence.
“So just being able to kind of rally our guys together, get a really good group, just enjoy each other, gain chemistry.
“All being similar in age, just kind of going together would be super cool.”
He added: “He’s coming over to our team at the right time.”
Sarr will have his countryman Bilal Coulibaly, Washington’s No. 7 overall pick last year, to help him settle in.
With the addition of another France star to the roster, a new nickname for the team — Ouizards — quickly started doing the rounds on social media.
Asked if Wizards stars already came up with their own name for the growing French contingent, Poole said they were yet to find the right moniker.
“I’m sure we’ll come up with something clever,” the ex-Michigan standout laughed
Sarr said that it was a “lifelong dream” come true putting his Wizards jersey on for the first time after a journey that saw him hoop in Europe, Australia, and now the US.
“Now we’re just gonna put the work in and, you know, be an NBA player,” told The U.S. Sun in Vegas.
News
Skip Bayless Defends Caitlin Clark Praise with ‘White Guilt’ Excuse, but Fans Aren’t Buying It
Skip Bayless, the once-controversial sports pundit, now finds himself out of the spotlight and, apparently, feeling guilty for cheering on one of college basketball’s rising stars, Caitlin…
VIDEO: Caitlin Clark Turns Up the Heat! Her Most Recent Daring Leg-Baring Pregame Outfit Has Everyone Talking
Caitlin Clark (Photo via @IndianaFever/Twitter) Caitlin Clark was grabbing online attention with her pregame outfit well before she went to the court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Clark was going…
Caitlin Clark’s Toughest Battle Yet: On-Court Injury, Performance Slump, and Political Controversy Hit Hard
It was a tough outing for Indiana Fever’s rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, who struggled during the team’s 86-75 loss to the Las Vegas Aces. Clark shot just 27 percent from the field,…
Shocking Confession: Angel Reese Opens Up About the Negative Side of the WNBA – Leaves Fans Speechless
She is one of the most talented players in the WNBA, a young girl that has become a star at a young age and seems to…
Unbelievable Blunder: Announcers Completely Miss A’ja Wilson’s Record-Breaking WNBA Milestone
A’ja Wilson is putting together a season unlike any other in WNBA history. The Las Vegas Aces star set the all-time WNBA single-season record for points scored on Wednesday night, cashing…
Emotional Moment: A’ja Wilson Sets Unbeatable Record, Leaving Caitlin Clark in the Dust
A’ja Wilson made WNBA history during the Las Vegas Aces’ game against the Indiana Fever, breaking the league’s single-season scoring record. Wilson surpassed Jewell Loyd’s 2023 record of 939…
End of content
No more pages to load