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4 months ago
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Zaccharie Risacher became the second Frenchman in as many years to be drafted first in the NBA Draft as the Atlanta Hawks picked the 6-foot-9 forward to start Wednesday's proceedings in Brooklyn.
Risacher follows Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 rookie sensation, who went first overall to the San Antonio Spurs at the 2023 NBA Draft.
And Risacher, 19, was not the only Frenchman in Wednesday’s draft. Seven-footer Alex Sarr, also 19, is also considered among the top talents this year. He was drafted in second by the Washington Wizards.
Right after learning his high draft selection, Risacher said: 'It's a blessing, you know. So exciting. There's a lot of feeling and emotions right now. It definitely feels so special. I'm so blessed.
'I'm so happy to have my friends and family here. This is amazing. I don't know what to say. Special.'
Zaccharie Risacher, 19, with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted No. 1 overall
The French forward celebrated his selection with friends and family in Brooklyn on Wednesday
Risacher - a forward - wowed in the LNB Pro A - the top-tier men's professional basketball league in France - this past season, averaging 10. 1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.8 steals per game as part of a postseason push for JL Bourg.
He's projected to be a three-and-D wing in the NBA, like Paul George, despite his height, as he's shown flashes of his speed and quick body movement over this past season, earning the EuroCup Rising Star tag in the process. He's also regarded as a very efficient catch-and-shoot player.
In February, Risacher was called up by France for its EuroBasket 2025 qualifying campaign. However, like Sarr, he was snubbed by his country for its Olympics roster this summer.
Risacher's father, Stephane, played basketball professionally and won a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics with France following an 85-75 loss to the US.
Sarr, meanwhile, played for the Pert Wildcats, of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL), over the last year, averaging 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 0.19 assists in 17 minutes per games.
He recorded a career-high 18 points and five blocks in a 103-91 win over the South East Melbourne Phoenix in January. Before plying his trade in Australia, Sarr was part of the Overtime Elite League in Atlanta.
He played two seasons at Overtime Elite, the first with Team Overtime and the second with YNG Dreamerz. Sarr earned second-team All-OTE honors in 2022–23.
Atlanta will look to pair Risacher with one of their big men - Clint Capela or Fernando Bruno - to form a promising frontcourt that can take over if Young or guard Dejounte Murray need to sit.
But, all of that depends on whether Young will still be a Hawk ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season, as theirs been a lot of talk of a potential trade to the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason.
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