"He was damn near in the NBA"- Projected No. 1 pick Alex Sarr eyes emulating father's passion for basketball in bid for NBA glory

As French forward Alex Sarr appears to be nearing selection at No. 1 overall in the NBA draft, he continues to share more about himself. On Monday's episode of "Podcast P" with Paul George, Sarr discussed his basketball influences, starting with a couple who were especially close to him. In particular, he singled out his father, Massar Sarr, who is a former professional hooper.

"Growing up, I used to see my brother and my Dad hoop," Sarr said (at 2:15 in the video below). "... Just seeing the passion that my Dad had for basketball. He wasn't playing in the first league in France, but he was watching film. He was damn near in the NBA."

Alex Sarr's father and basketball

Massar Sarr, Alex's father, was a professional basketball player in France who originally hailed from Senegal. Over the years, many African players, including some notable ones, have come from Senegal. Among them, is 7-foot-7 center Manute Bol, who parlayed his massive size into an NBA career.

Massar Sarr immigrated to France, obtained his college degree, and remained a basketball player. His work ethic and dedication to the game were reflected in the career advancements of both his sons. Alex's older brother, Olivier, is a professional hooper in the NBA.

Alex Sarr's brother and basketball

Then with Kentucky, Olivier Sarr battles for a loose ball.

Olivier Sarr, much like his brother, is a highly recruited power-forward prospect. The 7-foot Olivier initially signed with Wake Forest, where he played three seasons with the Demon Deacons and gradually grew into a larger role. In his junior year in 2019-20, the athlete averaged 13.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.

Sarr transferred before his final collegiate season and moved to the University of Kentucky, where he averaged 10.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game on a struggling team that eventually missed the NCAA Tournament.

Since then, Sarr joined the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he averaged 4.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in 46 games over parts of three seasons.

Alex Sarr's basketball future

Building on the example set by his father and brother, Alex Sarr has built a reputation as arguably the top available player in the 2024 NBA draft class. The 7-foot-1 Sarr has traveled a winding road to his likely NBA stardom.

Born in France, Sarr joined the Real Madrid cadet youth team at just the age of 14. He played two seasons with the club before moving to the United States in 2021, spending two seasons with Overtime Elite.

Sarr spent the 2023-24 season in the Australian Basketball League. Despite being just 19 years old, his average of 9.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game attest to his basketball potential. The athlete's height and his 7-foot-4 wingspan have intrigued NBA evaluators.

Are you excited to see Sarr in the NBA next season? Weigh in with your thoughts on his future career below.