Two months after having already granted us time in San Francisco, Alex Sarr took advantage of his trip to Miami to discuss again with us.
Despite the heavy defeat of Wizards in Florida, the atmosphere was somewhat light and relaxed in the French locker room and interior, finally physically restored, tried to evacuate the disappointment joking with his compatriot Bilal Coulibaly, from which he is never far away.
Alex Sarr (11.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.2 passes, 1.5 against) then stopped to tell us about his objectives of the end of the season, when he still seems to have a chance to aim for the title of Rookie of the year, against Stephon Castle or Jaylen Wells…
Alex, you just come back from an ankle injury that made you miss a dozen games in January and February. How do you feel?
It's okay, it's okay, I feel better and better every day. I have taken over for two games and everything is fine for the moment.
You gone up slowly before this injury (rookie in December). Have you taken advantage of your convalescence to work on something in particular?
It was still relatively short [la période de convalescence, ndlr]but I took the opportunity to continue working on my shoot, my technique ball in hand, and watch video, that kind of thing.
“It's pretty easy to play with Bilal”
Two weeks ago, you participated in your first All-Star Weekend in San Francisco. What do you remember from this experience?
It was good. Even if the matches still spent very quickly [son équipe a été éliminée dès le premier, ndlr]it was a great experience. It was very special to live my first All-Star Weekend, so I will remember. It was a very nice experience.
Just before that, there was also the “Trade Deadline”, with the departure of your “veteran” Jonas Valancunas who was able to change certain things for you …
Yes, the presence of Jonas will have allowed me to observe his professionalism, his way of working on a daily basis and approaching the matches. It helped me get inspired and model it for my personal approach. But I think that with what we build, we still try to remain fluid so that the changes are not too visible despite transfers, for example.
Always on the locker room. We see that you are close to Bilal Coulibaly and, in the field, your continuous relationship to show beautiful, promising things. Have you ever targeted areas of progression?
Yes yes. In fact, we especially want to continue to be able to look for and be able to be easily on the parquet floor. It is true that we get along well outside, so it's pretty easy to play together. But it can always be better, it's obvious.
“I am satisfied with myself and I appreciate my progress”
Regarding the race for the rookie of the year, we know that it seems more open than ever this season, but how do you judge your chances of coronation a month and a half from the end of the season?
Honestly, the best for me is not to think about it, to focus on yourself and to take the games one after the other … I just try to continue to progress until the end and what must happen will happen is all.
You have already been selected for the Rising Stars Challengebut we imagine that you are also targeting at least one place in one of the two “All-Rookie Team”?
As I said, I already take the games one after the other and I just try to continue to progress individually. [Les récompenses]this is the result of a good season, so I am mainly focused on ending my season well and progressing. We will see for the rest.
If you were to note your season six weeks before the end, which would you give yourself?
Oh, uh … [Il réfléchit] Mmmh, I think I would still give myself a good note, overall. There have been ups and downs, but I am rather satisfied with myself and I appreciate my progress in general. Now I will try to finish strong on the [six] weeks I have left.
Unfortunately, the Wizards season will not continue beyond April, but how do you intend to use the last weeks of competition?
I just have to continue to progress. We must use them to continue to establish us as a team [en vue de la saison prochaine] and to create a kind of momentum for the group.
“Euro 2025? This is the goal “
What is most delights you in your individual development between the first weeks of competition and today?
I would say that it is just having managed to adapt well to my new environment, to the routine of NBA matches, that kind of thing.
The defeats have accumulated all season for Washington. It shouldn't have been easy to manage, when you are not really used to it …
We especially know what we are trying to build here and everyone is motivated in relation to that, so we are rather focused on what we want to become later [collectivement].
The last big “road trip” of the season is approaching for Wizards, with seven trips to come. What are your expectations, both individually and collectively?
We just want to try to win as many games as possible over the two months we have left. We really want to continue to progress as a group and improve our alchemy for the future.
One last word on the Blues. You explained to us in January that you had not yet exchanged with Freddy Faith, the new coach, but that you still hoped to be part of the group for the Euro. Nothing has changed at this level?
Yes, it's always an honor for me to play for the French team. I have done all the young selections for the moment, so I am obviously interested in the idea of doing the same among the A now. This is the goal [pour cet été].
Interview in Miami
Alex Sarr | Percentage | Rebound | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | Lf | Off | Def | Early | PD | Fte | Int | COP | Ct | Pts |
2024-25 | Wast | 45 | 27 | 39.0 | 31.0 | 62.9 | 1.7 | 4.8 | 6.5 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 11.6 |
Total | 45 | 27 | 39.0 | 31.0 | 62.9 | 1.7 | 4.8 | 6.5 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 11.6 |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = minutes; Shots = successful shots / tempted shots; 3pts = 3-point / 3-point attempted; LF = Successful free throws / tempted free throws; Off = offensive rebound; Def = defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; PD = assists; FTE: Personal faults; Int = interceptions; BP = lost bullets; CT: against; Pts = points.