Olivier Sarr

Olivier Sarr's Biography

Olivier Sarr, pronounced oh-LIV-yay SAR, is a professional basketball player from France. Born on 20th February 1999, Sarr began his basketball career early, playing local basketball with his father, who is a former player, from the age of three. His early passion for the sport was fuelled by his admiration of basketball icon Hakeem Olajuwon. Sarr’s career advanced as he began training with club teams Bouscat and TOAC, before transitioning to INSEP, a prestigious sports institute in Paris.

During his time with the institute, Sarr represented INSEP at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament and competed for Centre Fédéral in the Nationale Masculine 1. It was not until he reached the age of fifteen that Sarr relocated to the United States to further develop his professional career. Evaluated as a four-star recruit by prominent sports scouting organization, Scout, Sarr chose to commit to Wake Forest, turning down offers from other recognised universities such as California, Vanderbilt, and UCF.

In his freshman year at Wake Forest, Sarr played admirably, with an average of 3.2 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. Expanding his strength and capacity through an increased weight regimen, he entered his sophomore season 20 pounds heavier. This physical transformation proved beneficial as he started 16 games, leading his team with 25 blocks while averaging 6.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

His illustrious run continued, peaking on February 29, 2020, when he scored a career-high 37 points, and clinched 17 rebounds, leading his team to an 84-73 victory against Notre Dame. During his junior year, Sarr maintained a consistent performance, averaging 13.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, while scoring 11 double-doubles. He was subsequently named to the Third Team All-ACC. However, following the dismissal of Coach Danny Manning, Sarr shifted gears and entered the transfer portal.

In May 2020, displaying the level of attention and demand he received across American colleges, Sarr announced his transfer to Kentucky after receiving interest from other top-tier institutions such as Duke, Baylor, Florida State, and Gonzaga. Making use of his eligibility, Sarr secured immediate clearance to play for Kentucky. Teamed up with fellow transfer Jacob Toppin, Sarr made an impact at Kentucky, averaging 10.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. In the aftermath of the pandemic, Sarr declared for the 2021 NBA draft, choosing to forego the additional season of eligibility offered by the NCAA.

Despite going undrafted, Sarr’s resilience remained unwavering. He played for the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA Summer League before being temporary signed and then released by the Oklahoma City Thunder in October 2021. Sarr bounced back shortly after, joining the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League and achieving an impressive debut score against the Salt Lake City Stars. While with the Blue, Sarr still had a chance with the Thunder, signing a ten-day contract in December 2021 and another one shortly after, in January 2022. However, he was waived by the Thunder in April of the same year. On the international front, Sarr represented France at prominent tournaments such as the 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Championship in Zaragoza, Spain, and the 2017 FIBA U18 European Championship in Slovakia.

Following his stint with the Thunder, Sarr joined Phoenix Suns for the 2022 NBA Summer League. In September of the same year, he was signed by the Portland Trail Blazers; however, he was waived by the team without making an appearance in any games. On 11th January 2023, he was re-acquired by the Oklahoma City Blue, with whom he had prior experience. His relationship with the Oklahoma City Thunder continued as he signed another two-way contract during the 2023-24 NBA season and made 15 appearances for the team. Unfortunately, Sarr’s performance was interrupted by a ruptured Achilles during the OKC Blue’s G-League Finals win against the Maine Celtics.

Apart from his basketball career, Sarr is known for his Senegalese heritage. He also shares his passion for basketball with his younger brother Alex Sarr, who is a basketball player for the NBA’s Washington Wizards, perpetuating the family’s connection to the sport.