Despite his impressive debut season, Alex Sarr, a fellow Frenchman, doesn’t think Victor Wembanyama is yet a better player than Bam Adebayo. During a recent interview with Bleacher Report, Sarr was asked to respond if he heard the name of a player who was superior to Wembanyama.
When the names of Rudy Gobert, Draymond Green, or Chet Holmgren were mentioned, Sarr remained silent; nevertheless, he spoke when Adebayo was brought up. Even while it can seem contentious at first, I don’t believe that to be a ridiculous viewpoint.
During the Miami Heat’s 2023–24 season, Adebayo averaged 19.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game while shooting 52.1% from the floor. He also earned the NBA All-Defensive First Team and had an overall good season.
Wembanyama, on the other hand, played for the San Antonio Spurs, averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals, and 3.6 blocks a game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Along with Adebayo, the 20-year-old was a member of the NBA All-Defensive First Team and was runner-up for DPOY.
Arguments in support of both Wembanyama and Adebayo can be made right now, in my opinion, but they won’t hold true for very long. I have a good feeling that the Frenchman will be considered the superior player of the two by this time next year.
Paul George said he was afraid to see Wembanyama’s rookie season come to an end and that he fully expected the young player to make significant progress in 2024–2025. He has a strong chance of winning DPOY, and those stats should continue to rise. By the end of next season, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to assume that Wembanyama will be regarded as one of the NBA’s top 10-15 players.
The French NBA Players’ Mount Rushmore, as revealed by Alex Sarr
In addition, Sarr was asked to give his Mount Rushmore of French NBA players during this interview with Bleacher Report.
“Tony Parker, Rudy (Gobert), (Nicolas) Batum, Boris Diaw, my brother (Olivier Sarr),” stated Sarr. As their careers are coming to a conclusion, they are almost like legends in French basketball. Some of them had already retired, after all.”
Tony Parker currently holds the title of greatest French player in NBA history, but Wembanyama will ultimately be surpassed by him. Parker was a six-time All-Star who finished his career with four championships and a Finals MVP award.
Gobert, on the other hand, is another clear choice. He is a three-time All-Star and has won DPOY four times. Given that he won MIP in 2006 and a championship in 2014, Diaw is also a wise choice. Though Batum hasn’t received the same accolades as the other three, I nevertheless rank him alongside the French Mount Rushmore.
Sarr selected his brother Olivier for the fifth seat, even though the monument only contains four spots. Given that the 25-year-old presently plays for the Oklahoma City Blue in the G League, there was obviously bias involved in this. But I wouldn’t hold it against him too much.
The team that picks Sarr in the 2024 NBA Draft will undoubtedly be hoping that he ends up on that Mount Rushmore one day. He made an impression in the NBL with the Perth Wildcats the previous season, and one of the top three picks in the 2018 draft is anticipated to go to him.
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