EuroBasket has emerged as a symbol of cultural pride and continental unity in an era when sports are often seen as a mirror of national identity. For Alex Sarr, a rising NBA talent, representing France at EuroBasket 2025 is a career milestone and a continuation of a national story.
After a successful rookie season with the Washington Wizards, Sarr credits head coach Brian Keefe and the team’s personnel for instilling the values of accountability, structure, and trust.
“They’re holding everybody accountable,” Sarr told NBA Reporter Grant Afseth. “Trying to build something here and everybody’s bought into building our identity.”
That identity is not restricted solely to Washington, D.C. His French heritage is the source of his rootedness. France has become a formidable basketball country outside of the United States due to the contributions of trailblazers like Tony Parker and Boris Diaw and global superstars like Victor Wembanyama. Sarr is filled with pride in being included in that tradition.
“Basketball definitely grew the past decade or so in France,” he said. “The NBA always inspired me when I was younger, watching the games and wanting to be part of it.”
Sarr’s connection to his home is still strong. He dreams of playing in front of his teammates if the Wizards play in a future NBA Global Game in France.
“It helps grow the game. Hopefully, it will be us next year. I’d be very happy to play there for sure,” he said. The French Federation has clarified that Sarr is part of their long-term vision. His inclusion on the extended 58-man roster for EuroBasket 2025 is a testament to his potential and a salute to his extensive international résumé. He’s been representing Les Bleus since winning medals at every major youth FIBA tournament, so he’s no stranger to it.
At the 2021 U16 Challengers, she was awarded gold, bronze, and silver, respectively. At the age of 19, he is poised to join a senior national team that has the potential to become the most talented in Europe. Scouts see a French frontcourt that could dominate EuroBasket, and possibly the Olympics, by teaming up defensively with towering compatriots such as Wembanyama or Rudy Gobert.
“There are a lot of French players in the league right now,” Sarr noted. “And I think our national team is going to look pretty good.”
For Alex Sarr, EuroBasket is not solely about basketball. It is about being a part of something bigger—a movement, a legacy, and the dream of a nation’s basketball dominance on the global stage. Players like Sarr remind us that pride, passion, and identity remain relevant in the modern game as Europe watches its sons return home in their country’s colors.
