Alex Sarr is heading to the 2026 Rising Stars Challenge, but if you’ve been paying attention in D.C., you already know-this kid can ball. On Tuesday night, the 7-foot French center gave Wizards fans a taste of what the future might look like, and for the first time in a while, it looked pretty bright.
Washington snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 115-111 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, and Sarr was at the heart of it. Sure, the shooting numbers weren't pretty-he went 11-of-29 from the field-but that hardly tells the story.
He filled up the stat sheet with 29 points, 12 rebounds, six blocks, three assists, and two steals. And one of those blocks?
That was a game-changer.
Alex Sarr REJECTION ❌
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 28, 2026
He’s up to 27 points and 5 blocks on the night!
pic.twitter.com/IooS9N8OE5
Early in the fourth quarter, with the Wizards trailing 94-89, Portland’s Donovan Clingan-a two-time national champion and the No. 2 overall pick-drove hard to the rim. Sarr met him at the summit and sent the shot packing, the ball ricocheting off the backboard. That rejection flipped the momentum, and the Wizards fed off it, closing strong to secure a much-needed win.
This season is all about growth for Washington. They’re not chasing a playoff seed-they’re chasing development, identity, and hope. And on nights like this, when a young cornerstone like Sarr takes the reins, it feels like they’re finally getting somewhere.
Sarr’s performance wasn’t perfect-far from it. He forced some shots, and his efficiency took a hit.
But what stood out was his confidence. He played like a guy who knows this team needs him to lead, and he didn’t shy away from that responsibility.
That’s not something you can teach. That’s something you grow into.
At just 20 years old and in his second NBA season, Sarr is already flashing the kind of two-way upside that franchises build around. He came into the night averaging 17.4 points, 7.3 boards, and 2.1 blocks per game.
Those numbers are solid. But what we saw against Portland was more than stats-it was presence.
It was leadership. It was belief.
The Wizards, now 11-34, are still deep in a rebuild. But if Sarr continues to embrace the alpha role, if he keeps anchoring the defense and asserting himself offensively, this team might finally have its foundation.
Next up: a tough test against the Milwaukee Bucks. But with Sarr playing like this, the Wizards have something to build on-and someone to believe in.