The Washington Wizards had some major injuries hit their roster throughout last season. Cam Whitmore was diagnosed with a season-ending blood clot issue, Trae Young reaggravated his quadriceps after just five games with the team, Anthony Davis was never cleared to play after his trade from Dallas, among several others.
One name not mentioned is Wizards’ center Alex Sarr, who only played 48 games last season due to multiple injuries. Most recently, the 21-year-old fractured his foot during an offseason workout. According to Washington’s PR team, Sarr underwent surgery and should be fully healthy to start the 2026-27 NBA season.
Washington Wizards Rising Star Undergoes Surgery, Will Be Healthy For 2026-27 NBA Season
After an average rookie campaign, Sarr proved all the doubters wrong with an impressive second season, averaging 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and two blocks over his injury-plagued season. Sarr should be considered Washington’s X-factor next season, being one of the biggest question marks in the Wizards’ new competitive era.
Can he stay healthy and build on an impressive sophomore campaign? Or will the injury bug stay around, prohibiting him from being the all-around weapon Washington needs to break into contention?
Health Is An Issue
When healthy, Sarr has proven to be a reliable scorer and elite defensive anchor for the Wizards. However, the problem for the Frenchman isn’t his skill level; it’s staying on the court. While he played 67 games during his rookie season, Sarr would suffer a major injury during his stint with the French National Team during FIBA’s 2025 EuroBasket tournament.
Unfortunately, that was just the beginning. He missed over 30 games last season due to several different injuries, ranging from his hamstring injury in February to being sidelined for the Wizards’ last nine games of the season due to a toe injury. Now, he’s coming off surgery and will miss an extended period of time to recover.
In such a crucial offseason, this injury could set him back months. He won’t be able to compete for France this summer during the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers and will have to sit out of any offseason work for some time. While he’ll be ready to go next season, can he stay healthy enough for Washington to be competitive?
Sarr isn’t just one of the biggest pieces on the team, but he’s a true need for the Wizards. As of this moment, Davis, Sarr, and Tristan Vukcevic will handle the majority of big man responsibilities for Washington during the 2026-27 season. His defensive capabilities, along with his three-level threat scoring, are a true necessity if Washington has any hope of starting their Young-Davis era off right.
Just Bad Luck, Right?
This injury may be just some faulty luck, but for the pessimists out there, it could serve as a bad omen for the Wizards’ future. After all, nearly everyone on Washington’s roster missed some time last season due to injury. Then, adding in a player of Davis’ history, there could be a horrid picture being painted for what’s to come next season.
Obviously, always hope for the best, but there’s no denying that it could be an early look into the future. If the team can stay healthy, there is no denying they could be a true Cinderella in the postseason. However, if they can’t, their new era may be over before it even starts.
The Last Word
Washington’s future may very well hinge on Sarr’s health moving forward. The Frenchman could be up for some potential league honors next season, or he could doom the Wizards’ chances of their first postseason push in half a decade. One thing is for sure: the Wizards will need all the help they can get.
Featured Image: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
