Zaccharie Risacher was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks with the first pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The young French forward is seen as a great fit for the Hawks due to his versatility and complementation pace.
Before getting drafted to Atlanta, however, he was able to play alongside the No. 1 pick of last year’s draft, Victor Wembanyama. From there, he signed with the French Pro A League JL Bourg, becoming a reliable piece for them. He started for a decent amount, 21 games, averaging 10.1 points and 3.8 rebounds. Due to his early success, he earned the title of 2023-24 French League Best Young Player. Now departing France, Zaccharie Risacher is ready to suit up for Atlanta.
The Hawks aim to build around star guard Trae Young after the departure of fellow guard Dejouante Murray. Zaccharie Risacher seems to be someone who can fill in the void and be a helping hand for Young. With experience as a well-rounded figure on multiple teams, Risacher has the potential to draw drastic change for the Hawks by becoming another efficient scorer and helpful defensive presence.
With Young, Zaccharie can run a decent pick-and-roll package that will come in handy to snatch some points. Due to his advanced lateral quickness, he can also become a finisher of lobs and a reliable source of second-hand points. The Hawks can use him well as a wing defender, but he should work on his blocking game to become an elite rim protector. With further development in Atlanta, though, Zaccharie Risacher can become a premier player for the Hawks.
To improve day by day, Zaccharie needs to hone the very skills that made him the top pick of this year’s draft. He is a creative scorer who can curl to the basket or dish it to an open man to finish. He is an advanced shooter for his size, making 39 percent of the threes he attempted last season and finishing at 46% from the field. By taking over during fast break situations, he capitalizes on the open floor and expands scoring opportunities. As a mobile forward, Zaccharie is good off the ball and can find the right gaps to sneak a bucket. However, his strongholds don’t just lie on the offensive floor.
As for defense, Zacchaire can adequately defend both wing areas and contest shots in the paint. He can switch well after a screen and can handle defending guards for a decent amount of time. His off-ball defense also makes an impact by making it harder for players to get the ball. When an opponent misses, the Frenchman is always on it for the rebound, securing valuable possessions for his team. His overall length helps him become a presence on defense that the Hawks will benefit from.
But, to take his game to the next level, Risacher needs to bulk up. Weighing in at 200 pounds, the young forward needs to add more muscle to better compete against other big men and capitalize on mismatch opportunities. Also, his dribble package needs to improve so that he can better initiate pick and rolls as well as avoid costly turnovers. Enhancing his float game wouldn’t hurt as well to widen his capabilities within the arc. Through it all, though, the Hawks are not hesitant to use the young forward.
However, how they’ll use him this year is still uncertain. Will the Hawks try to give him much playing time to make the playoffs or play him limitedly to remain as a lottery team in hopes of gaining a quality pick from the stacked 2025 class? Either way, Zacchaire Risacher has to prove that he belongs in Atlanta by shining whenever he steps foot on the court. Suiting up for an NBA team for the first time may seem daunting but Zaccheire has what it takes to compete against the best talent in the world. All he has to do is fly high.
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