The Washington Wizards’ rebuild is taking shape, and rookie center Alexandre Sarr is giving it even more promise with his late-season surge.
There are reasons for Wizards optimism, starting with Sarr.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft, Sarr has improved offensively as the season has progressed. In 42 games before the All-Star break, Sarr averaged 11.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.6 blocks and shot 39.3% from the field, 30.8% on 3-pointers and 64% on free throws. Since the All-Star break in 17 games, Sarr is averaging 17.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 blocks and shooting 41.4% from the field, 35% on 3-pointers and 68.8% on free throws.
He had two games scoring at least 20 points before the All-Star break, and he has had seven games with 20 or more points since the break.
Washington also has rookies Bub Carrington (acquired with the No. 14 pick), Kyshawn George (acquired with the No. 24 pick) and AJ Johnson (the No. 23 pick by Milwaukee and sent to the Wizards in the Kyle Kuzma trade deadline deal). Second-year wing Bilal Coulibaly took on greater responsibility this season, and it’s easier to see potential with the Wizards under a front office led by president Michael Winger and general manager Will Dawkins.
The rubble has been replaced by foundation, and the Wizards are in line for another quality player with a top-six lottery pick in the 2025 draft.
Here’s the latest edition of the USA TODAY Sports’ rookie power rankings, with odds to win Rookie of the Year and stats through Sunday’s games (odds courtesy of BetMGM):
5. Heat center Kel’el Ware
2024-25 stats: 9.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 56.3% FG, 31.7% 3PT, 69.1% FT
As Miami battles to stay competitive in the play-in window, Ware has been an efficient double-double machine, capitalizing on easy buckets as a lob and low-post threat. On Saturday, in a victory over the 76ers, he became just the third rookie in NBA history to record a double-double without missing a single shot. In the game, Ware converted all six field goal attempts and finished with 13 points and 14 boards.
Odds: +8000
4. Grizzlies guard Jaylen Wells
2024-25 stats: 10.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 42.5% FG, 37.5% 3PT, 82.7% FT
Although he has started 69 games and has been a steady presence for Memphis, Wells, has seen other rookies outperform him. He has increased his scoring in recent games, but Wells has gone through multiple stretches this season in which he struggled significantly from the floor. Over a three-game stretch in mid-March, he shot 17.9% on his 28 attempts.
Odds: +4000
3. Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher
2024-25 stats: 12.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 45.2% FG, 35.0% 3PT, 71.7% FT
He has been a big reason for Atlanta’s slow crawl up the Eastern Conference, and Sunday’s victory over the Bucks — the team ahead of the Hawks in the standings — was a perfect example. Risacher scored a career-high 36 points as a true inside-out threat; not only did he slash and attack the rim at will, he also laced 5-of-11 attempts from beyond the arc.
Odds: +1000
2. Wizards center Alex Sarr
2024-25 stats: 13.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 40.0% FG, 32.2% 3PT, 66.0% FT
In Sarr’s past 10 games and at 27.7 minutes per game, he is averaging 19.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.8 blocks and shooting 44.9% from the field, 36.9% on 3s and 76.9% on free throws. He also has five games with at least 20 points in that stretch including a career-high 34 points against Denver on March 15.
Odds: +900
1. Spurs guard Stephon Castle
2024-25 stats: 14.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 42.5% FG, 38.4% 3PT, 71.4% FT
Though the Spurs have fallen on hard times, Castle has remained the bright spot of the season. He will still have the occasional inefficient shooting night that results in single-digit scoring, but Castle has scored at least 15 points in 15 of his past 18 games. One of the more promising indicators about his future is his propensity to draw fouls and get to the line; he leads all rookies with 4.0 free throws per game, though that number has jumped to 5.9 per game over his past 18.
Odds: -800