By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The Washington Wizards are gearing up for the start of the Summer League, with a couple of European players in its ranks.
The 2nd overall pick from the previous NBA Draft, Alexander Sarr, will have his first taste of the NBA, and he’s in familiar company within the squad, having met Tristan Vukcevic while playing for Real Madrid‘s youth team.
“When I was 14, I played at Real Madrid and he was there. It’s funny being on the same team; sometimes we talk about our Real Madrid days, and it’s nice seeing how far we’ve come,” Sarr said during pre-Summer League media availability.
With a smile on his face, Vukcevic fondly remembered the time he met the French center in the Spanish capital.
“I know Alex from when I was in Madrid; we were there together for about two years, so it’s nice having somebody I grew up playing basketball with,” the former Real Madrid and Partizan player said. “He came in my second year at Madrid. He was always big, tall, athletic. I didn’t really get to play with him much; we practiced together a couple of times because of the age difference. He’s always been great, a bit quiet, but I’ll make sure he opens up a bit.”
Sarr also shared his first impressions of being a Wizard.
“It’s been nice; some vets came in, AG (Anthony Gill) was here. They always give you tips, and it’s always nice having those guys around.”
Vukcevic was already a part of Washington’s setup last season, playing 10 NBA regular-season games and averaging 8.5 points with 3.6 rebounds.
“I feel in better shape than last year, and for sure, I’m more comfortable. Coming from Europe, it was a bigger change, and now that I’ve played a couple of actual NBA games and played Summer League last year and this year, I’m feeling a lot more comfortable.”
Originally selected as the 42nd overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft, the 21-year-old signed a two-way contract with the Wizards this summer. He’ll have a chance to work with Lithuanian center Jonas Valanciunas, who recently joined the team.
“I’m not worried; I’m here to play basketball. We’ve got a lot of bigs this year, and I’m ready to learn from them. Jonas is coming in; he’s a great European big, and I can’t wait for him to guide me,” Tristan Vukcevic concluded.