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Par Joël Pütz | Journaliste sportif
First pick in the 2024 draft, Zaccharie Risacher has inevitably been closely watched by Atlanta fans this year, as well as by former players of the franchise. Among them, Dominique Wilkins gave his opinion on the French rookie’s season.
Typically, players selected with the first pick in the draft are accompanied by a certain amount of hype. Victor Wembanyama was the perfect example in 2023, but the least we can say is that his successor hasn’t generated the same level of enthusiasm. Zaccharie Risacher arrived at the Hawks as the leader of a draft class considered historically weak, even being overshadowed by… Bronny James.
However, it didn’t matter to the young forward who discovered the NBA in 2024-25, in rather unusual circumstances for a player drafted so high. Because although Atlanta finished the season with a negative record (40-42, 8th in the East), the franchise still made it to the Play-In, which allowed its French rookie to gain a lot of experience.
For his part, Risacher finished his regular season averaging just over 12 points and 3 rebounds. Nothing incredible, but it’s worth remembering that he wasn’t the first offensive option, or even the second or third for several months. Furthermore, his performances were enough to convince Dominique Wilkins, the greatest player in the franchise’s history, to sing his praises to Esports Insider:
Dominique Wilkins satisfied with Zaccharie Risacher’s rookie season
The young fella Risacher – I tell people, be patient with this kid. He’s going to be pretty good. This year alone he had two or three 30-point games. This kid can play. He’s young. People have to let him grow. He’s only 19 years old, but he’s going to be special. I love this kid. Guys at that age have to go through a learning curve, but he learned very quickly.
In the very beginning he got pushed around a little bit, but he showed no fear. As the season went on, you could see him progressing more and more. The great thing is, he had a chance to learn on the job in a starting role. He got there quicker than some of the rookies who came in this past year. He was able to play with a great point guard and a nice supporting cast to help him along.
The results are very encouraging for the former Bourg-en-Bresse player, but the hardest part remains for him: to confirm and even exceed expectations during his sophomore season. Risacher has the potential to be a fundamental member of the franchise in the coming years, especially if Trae Young were to end up leaving as many rumors suggest. All that remains is to prove it on the court.
