Inside The Wizards

'Sky's The Limit' For Wizards' Alex Sarr, Says Veteran

Alex Sarr brings much-needed optimism for the Washington Wizards.

Jeremy Brener

Nov 13, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Washington Wizards forward Alex Sarr (20) goes up to dunk while defended by San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Nov 13, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Washington Wizards forward Alex Sarr (20) goes up to dunk while defended by San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images / Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
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The Washington Wizards are losing a lot to start the season, but they are learning even more, and there's hope that these experience and lessons will pay off in the long run.

That's the mentality a young team like the Wizards has to adopt, as the rookies learn from some of the veterans on the roster.

One partnership that has yielded positive results so far is between veteran Jonas Valanciunas and rookie Alex Sarr.

“That’s my rook right there!” Valanciunas said of Sarr via RG reporter Grant Afseth.

“Every time he steps on the court, he gains experience. Right now, experience is key for him — every minute he plays will help him grow. He’s working hard, and the sky’s the limit for him.”

Sarr and Valanciunas have similar paths entering the league. Like Valanciunas, Sarr was a top-five pick coming from Europe who had to learn and adjust to the NBA game. Valanciunas took a year to eventually move to the NBA for the Toronto Raptors, and the Lithuanian big man dealt with some growing pains.

However, those growing pains parlayed into a career that has lasted over a decade, and he still has a lot of value that he can bring to the Wizards.

Washington signed Valanciunas to a three-year deal in hopes of having him around for a little while to mentor and develop some of the younger players on the roster like Sarr. So far, it seems like a positive partnership.

If Valanciunas can continue to take Sarr under his wing, the Frenchman could emerge into a building block for the Wizards for a long time.

Sarr, Valanciunas and the Wizards are back in action on Thursday when they host the division rival Charlotte Hornets. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET from Capital One Arena.

Make sure you bookmark Washington Wizards on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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