Wizards' Defensive Star Omitted from All-Defense Honors

The team's 28th ranked defensive rating at 118 points allowed per 100 possessions makes this look like less of a lapse, but Alex Sarr's debut season of defensive mastery finishing without such a mention from award voters does a bit of a disservice to the young center's instant impact.

The frenchman was touted for his potential as a shot blocker and versatility as a perimeter switcher in last year's NBA Draft, and he delivered on his defensive promise with a two-way season that will forever tie his rookie campaign to fellow modern studs like Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren. He blocked 1.5 shots per game, good for the sixth-most of all NBA players.

He already earned the distinction of getting named to the All-Rookie First Team, which is where he'll have to settle after older centers like Evan Mobley, Rudy Gobert and Ivica Zubac soak up all of the love.

The Washington Wizards find themselves in a sticky situation in the midst of this summer's NBA Draft cycle, stuck between how to manage their unfortunate lottery finish at the sixth pick, making last year's decision with what to do at #2 look that much simpler in retrospect.

Sarr and the Wizards have a long way to go before they're respected for their winning defensive play, but they're already well on the way to building a long-term winning solution on their own time.