Olivier Sarr Bio
Olivier Sarr is a French professional basketball player who most recently signed a two-way contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in March 2026, while also playing for the Cleveland Charge of the NBA G League. Standing at 6 feet 10 inches and listed at 240 pounds, Sarr plays the center position and is recognized for his size, rebounding, and defensive presence in the paint. He is the older brother of fellow professional basketball player Alex Sarr, who plays for the Washington Wizards.
Olivier Sarr played college basketball for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and the Kentucky Wildcats, finishing his college career in 2021 before entering professional basketball. Over the course of his career, he has represented club teams in France, two NCAA programs, and several NBA and G League organizations, including a championship-winning run with the Oklahoma City Blue in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Olivier Sarr was born on 20 February 1999 in Niort, France, and grew up in a basketball family with Senegalese roots. His father played professional basketball in France, and that family connection shaped Olivier Sarr’s introduction to the sport at a very young age. Sarr began playing basketball at age three, training alongside his father, and he quickly drew inspiration from Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon.
As a youth, Sarr developed his game with French club teams Bouscat and TOAC before joining INSEP, a renowned sports institute in Paris. While at INSEP, he competed for Centre Fédéral in the Nationale Masculine 1 and represented the program at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament. At the age of 15, Olivier Sarr moved to the United States to continue his basketball development, eventually emerging as a four-star recruit by Scout.
Path to Basketball
Coming out of INSEP, Olivier Sarr was regarded as one of the most promising French prospects of his class. He committed to Wake Forest over scholarship offers from California, Vanderbilt, and UCF, choosing the ACC program to compete at the highest level of American college basketball. His decision to move across the Atlantic at 15 reflected both his competitive ambitions and his family’s deep ties to the sport.
At Wake Forest, Sarr steadily developed into a frontcourt contributor, gradually increasing his scoring and rebounding averages across his freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons. After coach Danny Manning was fired, Sarr entered the transfer portal and announced a move to Kentucky, where he received interest from Duke, Baylor, Florida State, and Gonzaga. He was granted immediate eligibility at Kentucky alongside fellow transfer Jacob Toppin, finishing his college career in 2021 before declaring for the NBA draft.
Olivier Sarr Career
Early Career (2017–2021)
Olivier Sarr’s college career at Wake Forest began modestly, as he averaged 3.2 points and 3.0 rebounds per game as a freshman. He added 20 pounds of muscle entering his sophomore season, when he started 16 games and averaged 6.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, leading the Demon Deacons with 25 blocks. His development culminated on 29 February 2020, when Sarr scored a career-high 37 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in an 84–73 victory over Notre Dame.
As a junior, Sarr averaged 13.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, recording 11 double-doubles and earning Third Team All-ACC honors. He then transferred to Kentucky, where he averaged 10.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game in his only season. After the 2020–21 campaign, Olivier Sarr declared for the 2021 NBA draft, forgoing the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oklahoma City Thunder / Blue Era (2021–2024)
After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, Olivier Sarr joined the Memphis Grizzlies for the NBA Summer League. On 16 October 2021, he was signed and then immediately waived by the Oklahoma City Thunder, which led to his assignment to the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League. In his debut with the Blue, Sarr posted 14 points and 7 rebounds against the Salt Lake City Stars, signaling his readiness for professional basketball.
On 27 December 2021, Sarr signed a 10-day contract with the Thunder and bounced between the NBA roster and the Blue several times that season. He signed a two-way contract with the Thunder on 21 February 2022, before being waived on 6 April 2022. Sarr then appeared for the Phoenix Suns in the 2022 NBA Summer League, was briefly signed and converted to a two-way deal by the Portland Trail Blazers in September and October 2022, and was waived by Portland in November 2022 without appearing in a game.
Sarr returned to the Oklahoma City Blue in January 2023 and signed another two-way contract with the Thunder in February 2023, followed by an additional two-way deal in August 2023. During the 2023–24 NBA season, he appeared in 15 games for the Thunder, averaging 2.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 0.1 assists in 6.5 minutes per contest. On 15 April 2024, Sarr suffered a ruptured Achilles during the OKC Blue’s G League Finals victory over the Maine Celtics, a win that delivered him an NBA G League championship.
Raptors 905 Era (2025–2026)
After recovering from his Achilles injury, Olivier Sarr signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Toronto Raptors on 1 August 2025. He was released by the Raptors on 16 October 2025, and shortly afterward joined Raptors 905, the organization’s G League affiliate, to continue his professional career in North America.
Cleveland Cavaliers / Charge Era (2026–Present)
On 3 March 2026, Olivier Sarr signed a two-way contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, linking him to the Cleveland Charge of the NBA G League. The move gave Sarr another opportunity to compete at the NBA level while continuing to develop his game in the G League, reinforcing his reputation as a resilient frontcourt presence.
Driving Style and Strengths
Olivier Sarr is recognized for his length, physicality, and interior presence. His 6-foot-10 frame and shot-blocking instincts make him a natural rim protector, while his improving rebounding and mid-range touch have allowed him to expand his offensive role. Sarr’s professional journey, marked by repeated two-way contracts and G League stints, reflects a player who has leaned on perseverance and steady development to remain in the professional ranks.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Olivier Sarr’s career are his 37-point, 17-rebound performance against Notre Dame in 2020, his Third Team All-ACC selection that same year, and his NBA G League championship with the Oklahoma City Blue in 2024. His signing of a two-way contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers in March 2026 represents the latest milestone in a career defined by persistence through injury and roster changes.
Olivier Sarr Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Olivier Sarr comes from a basketball family with Senegalese heritage. His father played professional basketball in France, which gave Olivier an early foundation in the sport and inspired his lifelong commitment to the game. This family background helped shape his path from French youth programs to the highest levels of American basketball.
Personal Life
Olivier Sarr is the older brother of Alex Sarr, a professional basketball player who plays for the Washington Wizards in the NBA. The Sarr brothers represent one of the notable basketball sibling pairs to emerge from France in recent years, with both having trained at INSEP before pursuing professional careers.
2025 Season Performance
Olivier Sarr’s 2025 campaign centered on his return to professional basketball following the ruptured Achilles he suffered in April 2024. After signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Toronto Raptors in August 2025, he used the preseason to rebuild his conditioning and on-court rhythm. His release by the Raptors in mid-October 2025 cleared the way for his assignment to Raptors 905, where he could log meaningful minutes in the G League.
With Raptors 905, Sarr worked to re-establish himself as a reliable center, focusing on rebounding, rim protection, and finishing around the basket. The 2025 season was less about statistical milestones and more about proving his health and reestablishing his standing within the Toronto basketball ecosystem. His play in the G League also set the stage for his subsequent opportunity at the NBA level.
