« He’s progressing enormously »: Alexandre Sarr essential against Slovenia
After being inconsistent since the start of summer, Alexandre Sarr (7’1″, 20) delivered his most complete performance with the French team in this second EuroBasket 2025 game. The Washington Wizards center put in a solid showing on both ends of the floor and emerged as a key factor in turning the tide after halftime, when Slovenia was still leading 54-47.
A complete and energetic performance
In 22 minutes of play, Alexandre Sarr tallied 12 points on 5/6 shooting (including 1/2 from 3-point range), 5 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 blocks, for an 18 efficiency rating, the second-best French performance behind Sylvain Francisco (40). But beyond the statistics, it was his energy that changed the momentum. Able to finish near the rim but also score from distance, the tall center showed an interesting offensive arsenal. Defensively, he was one of the few who managed to disrupt Luka Doncic, particularly in pick and roll sequences where he contained the Slovenian genius.
His two spectacular blocks in the second half, followed by passionate screams, left their mark and energized the whole team. « It was good timing. I got the ball and went for the block. It obviously feels good to have a better game than last time. And now, we need to keep it going, » he explained in the mixed zone.
Staff perspective: clear progress
Frédéric Fauthoux emphasized his player’s progress since the start of preparation: « If you look since the beginning, Alex is progressing enormously. This isn’t the NBA, he needs to adjust. Today, he put in a great performance defending the pick and roll. Then, he was well-served. We know his qualities in terms of size and athleticism. He grabbed important rebounds. » The head coach insists however: in this team, no individual performance exists without the collective. « It’s always awkward to talk about one particular player because if you’re good, it’s because others are good alongside you. »
Alex Sarr vs Slovenia – 08/30
12 Points
5 rebounds
1 steal
2 blocks4/4 2PFG 1/2 3PFG
Full highlights: pic.twitter.com/BrYwEOfYxV
— riley ｜ (@rileyricharrds) August 30, 2025
Support from teammates
Sarr can count on the support of a golden generation that knows him well. Zaccharie Risacher, his friend from the 2005 generation, was full of praise: « Alex did a huge job. Both defensively and offensively, he was very valuable. It’s great because we’re going to need him for the rest of the competition. As I said, we all played very well. We find each other. We’re good together. »
Bilal Coulibaly also highlighted his defensive impact: « Alex is always there at the right moments, with very good defensive timing, blocking shots, which saved us on several plays. He complements the team very well. »
Defense, key to victory
Trailing at halftime (54-47), France tightened up in the second half, limiting Slovenia to 41 points after the break. Sarr played a central role in this adjustment: « We just tried to play higher on pick and roll defense, not let them have too much space. »
Comparisons with the preparation game against Spain at Bercy came up in discussions: after a difficult start, the collective reaction came through defense. « It’s true, in the way we came back after halftime, it’s similar. Now it’s up to us to try to do this from the start of the game, » analyzes Sarr.
Already focused on Israel and Deni Avdija
With two wins in two games, Team France is ideally positioned in Group D. But there’s no time to celebrate: on Sunday, Israel stands in the Blues’ way, with NBA forward Deni Avdija as the headline player. « He’s a good player, a slasher. He’s all-around, he can shoot, he can pass. We’ll need to work as a team again and contain him, » warns Alexandre Sarr.
The Wizards center knows he now needs to repeat this kind of performance: « Yes, it feels good to have an impact on the victory. That’s what I try to do. And now, we need to keep it going. »
In Katowice,
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