With the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks made the decision to draft Zaccharie Risacher, a talented two-way wing from France. Many NBA fans questioned Atlanta’s selection, but it the front office had full confidence in their doings.
In Risacher’s Las Vegas Summer League debut, he dropped 18 points and five rebounds on 7-of-16 shooting, including multiple three-pointers made.
The Summer League experience showed how fortunate the Hawks were to have Risacher in their future plans. He is a smart, talented wing with a prototypical frame to flourish in the modern era. To put the cherry on top, Risacher constantly looks for ways to improve on and off the court.
On the court, the blueprint is simple: show up each day ready to work and understand that mistakes are inevitable. By making the most of each lesson, Risacher will thrive for the rest of his professional career.
Off the floor, Risacher should continue to focus on his diet, analyze film, and build chemistry with his teammates. Although these will come with time, he began on the right foot as he attended the Falcons’ Sunday night showdown against the Chiefs approximately one month before the regular season kicked off.
The French phenom progressed day by day through training camp. He made notable refinements while taking mental notes from the veterans around him. Risacher appeared ready to contribute in the Hawks’ season opener.
In just 19 minutes off the bench, Risacher certainly had his moments, but it became clear he was still learning. He finished with seven points and one rebound, shooting 2-for-8 from the field and 1-for-4 from long distance.
With injuries to De’Andre Hunter and several others, the first overall pick received the starting nod by just game number three. That was by far his best performance to date, as he posted 13 points and six boards in 27 minutes.
Head coach Quin Snyder noted Risacher’s fit with each rotation and solidified him as a starter, moving Hunter to the bench even after his return from injury.
The box scores display Risacher’s statistics, but they do not provide any context on his defensive capacities. He has been outstanding in guarding the perimeter, disrupting pick-and-rolls, and causing havoc in the pass lanes.
He goes above and beyond in every aspect of the game, checking off each box as a rookie. This is all you can ask from a 19-year-old star in the world’s strongest form of competition.
Risacher’s best showcase came on a five-point victory against the New York Knicks in State Farm Arena. He ended the night with 33 points (team-high), seven rebounds, three steals, and two blocks (team-high). This is all Hawks fans needed to see from their rookie in one of the best recent rivalries in the NBA.
That said, Snyder and the coaching staff must feed Risacher with as many opportunities as possible. He is proving to be an instant success for the Hawks, giving league executives another case for Rookie of the Year. At a minimum, Risacher has earned recognition on the league’s All-Rookie first team shortlist.