The Washington Wizards (2-10) have two genuine Rookie of the Year favorites on its young roster. Rookie stars Bub Carrington and Alex Sarr have been showing flashes of what they can be as they mature more into the league. Yes, Washington currently is 13th in the conference, but the future in D.C. looks bright, especially with the level of play from Carrington and Sarr.
The Washington Wizards have Two Genuine Rookie of the Year Favorites
Bub Carrington
The first-round pick from Pittsburgh is currently averaging 9.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.3 assists thus far in his rookie campaign prior to Monday night’s game against the Knicks. The 19-year old is shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 37 percent from beyond the arc.
The rookie guard displays his unique ability to score by using his 6-foot-4 frame. Carrington thrives in pick-and-roll situations and getting to his spots on the court. The Maryland native currently ranks seventh among rookies in scoring average. Furthermore, Carrington showcases his prowess as a solid playmaker, as he ranks first among rookies in assists per game.
Prominent NBA players such as Golden State’s Draymond Green praised Carrington’s confidence and ability on the court. Green and the Warriors visited the Wizards back on November 4, and Carrington contributed 16 points and eight rebounds. In fact, Carrington tallied that stat line against a Warriors team that is ranked fourth in team defense.
Carrington can score from anywhere on the court and is also a credible distributor. If Carrington can continue to play at this level, he can make a serious run at the Rookie of the Year award.
Alex Sarr
The No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft has also shown flashes of his potential. The Frenchman currently averages 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. Sarr stands at 7-foot, 205 lbs., and uses his frame to be an adequate rim protector. In fact, Sarr ranks first among rookies in blocks per game (2.3) and also ranks fifth in scoring average amongst his freshman peers.
In fact, Sarr made Wizards franchise history by having garnered at least two blocks in each of his first three games to start his career. Moreover, Sarr’s streak stretched to six games overall to start the season.
Furthermore, Sarr recently scored a career-high 20 points against the Atlanta Hawks back on November 15. Sarr has struggled with shooting thus far overall, as he shot 29.7 percent from the field in October and 36.9 percent from the field in the first six games in November prior to the game against the Hawks. However, Sarr’s ability on defense and his capability to run the floor makes him a solid candidate for the Rookie of the Year award.
Since Sarr is the Wizards highest overall draft pick since 2010, the franchise expects the 19-year old center to be the cornerstone piece of the franchise for the foreseeable future. As of now, Sarr has shown glimpses that he can be that player.
The Last Word
As of now, Philadelphia 76ers rookie guard Jared McCain is the frontrunner to win the Rookie of the Year award according to Fox Sports. Yes, McCain has had a strong start to his rookie season with the mostly Joel Embiid-less 76ers. The former Duke star currently leads the rookie class in points per game (14.8) and has averaged 28.2 points across the last four games. McCain deserves to be the frontrunner at the moment, especially since Embiid and Paul George haven’t played particularly up to par lately.
However, Carrington and Sarr are looking more and more of what the franchise expects them to be in the future, which are All-Star caliber players that can lead the franchise into contention.
