The Rise of Zaccharie Risacher: A Model of Simplicity in the NBA

Zaccharie Risacher is a model of simplicity. Humble, simple and true to family values. Affable for his first press briefing at the Atlanta Hawks on Friday morning, the number 1 of the 2024 Draft followed up with answers, in his hoarse voice, sometimes hesitant in English but without braggadocio. This discretion contrasts with winger Nikola Đurisic, chosen in 43rd place by the Hawks. “Show your biceps,” the Serbian said to the Frenchman during a photo shoot between rookies.

First time in the new threads for the rooks pic.twitter.com/qenOuBUoq6

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) June 28, 2024

More than the side effects of a basketball player’s life, the floor remains his favorite field of expression, the one where he excels and shines the most. “I’m just focusing on the good things: being a professional player, being serious and keeping my routine,” he emphasizes at a press conference. I don’t worry too much about outside noise. »

“Everything is designed to progress and to win”

Arriving on the sly Thursday morning, while all eyes were on the studios of the CNN television channel for the first presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, Zaccharie Risacher took the time to discover his environment. “I really feel like everything is designed to progress and to win so it’s incredible,” he told Basket USA at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex training center, 20 minutes from downtown. I can’t wait to settle in here, to find my routines. » Atlanta is not unknown to him – “it’s the only city I know in the United States,” he said just after his draft – since he trained in Georgia two years ago before moving there. return once his Burgundy season is over to prepare for the workouts.

His face – and that of Nikola Đurisic – is discreetly displayed around Centennial Olympic Park or next to State Farm Arena. The excitement is minimal, Hawks fans, some of whom were hoping for the arrival of Alexandre Sarr in the interior, are waiting to see him in action. “We were very divided before the draft but we are impatient to see him play,” underlines Jeffrey Pearsall, a Hawks season ticket holder for more than 20 years. He fits perfectly what Atlanta is looking for: shooting, defense and size in the wings.

Around Centennial Olympic Park or next to State Farm Arena, Zaccharie Risacher’s face is displayed (discreetly) in Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/Fos7b2EDzB

— Théo Quintard (@TheoQuintard) June 30, 2024

With a smile on his face, the general manager of the Hawks, Landry Landry, is equally enthusiastic. “He’s a player with a significant basketball IQ,” he explains to the French press. The development he has made so far is fantastic and he is only 19 years old. We want to help him become the best version of himself. He evolved in a competitive environment and developed qualities perfect for the NBA game. »

“He is the perfect photograph of the modern player”

Shunned by ASVEL, his training club, Zaccharie Risacher especially took on another dimension with the Burgian neighbor last year. EuroCup finalist and Betclic Élite semi-finalist, the new Hawks winger was quickly given responsibility by Frédéric Fauthoux. His two titles as best youngster on the national and European scene are two of the markers of a successful season. A “decisive” step in his young career where, by his own admission, “ [il] learned a lot.”

“He is the perfect photograph of the modern player,” underlines his individual coach, Anthony Brossard, in discussions with the Hawks, as he explained to Basket USA, to follow his foal across the Atlantic. He had the intelligence to take from the best: he has the ability to play all-terrain like Kevin Durant and has the outside shot of a Ray Allen or a Klay Thompson. In addition to being a good attacker, he likes to defend and that’s what gives him a unique side. »

With his new status as number 1 in the draft, Zaccharie Risacher does not want to “put more pressure on himself than that”, recalling that Victor Wembanyama, selected at number 1 last year by the San Antonio Spurs, and he are “two different players” and that they both have “high ambitions”. In short, he has no intention of becoming another player. Not today nor tomorrow. “I’m not going to change overnight. I have to do what I know how to do but without letting myself do it,” he already said in New York, after being drafted in first position for the 2024 vintage.

️ Zaccharie Risacher: “No comparison can be made with Victor (Wembanyama). There is no more pressure than that to put on yourself. We represent our country, we both achieved our dream (of playing in the NBA), we have high ambitions.” pic.twitter.com/Yye6XmMd5y

— Théo Quintard (@TheoQuintard) June 29, 2024

His family, his pillar

Praised for his professionalism, Zaccharie Risacher draws his calm and serenity from his family roots. In the Risacher household, basketball is a must. Almost a religion. His father, Stéphane Risacher, had a rich basketball career between PSG-Racing, Olympiakos and Malaga – where his son was born – also finishing Olympic vice-champion in Sydney in 2000. His mother, Sandrine, works in basketball match production. The youngest of the family, Aïnhoa, is just as talented as her big brother: born in 2007 and MVP of the last European Championship won by France last summer, she also has a bright future ahead of her.

Zaccharie Risacher, all smiles with his new tunic on his shoulders. pic.twitter.com/LXmxxI4eYZ

— Théo Quintard (@TheoQuintard) June 28, 2024

“I quickly understood that he was a version 2.0 or even 3.0 of the player that I was,” says Stéphane Risacher, his voice calm, taking care to choose each of his words. The skills developed by young players are tenfold compared to what we did in their time. There are crossing points which make me say that the lead times are extraordinary. »

A culture change at the Hawks?

Number one in a 2024 draft class touted as one of the weakest in history, Zaccharie Risacher appears to be at the heart of the Hawks’ rebuilding project. After two years of an unsuccessful Dejounte Murray-Trae Young partnership, Atlanta decided to trade the former San Antonio Spurs guard to New Orleans, acquiring Larry Nance Jr. and Dyson Daniels. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the city’s main newspaper, was quick to warn the franchise’s front office once the draft was over. “The Hawks need a major culture change for No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher to become a star,” wrote journalist Michael Cunningham in daily columns.

A complete player ready to play in the NBA, Zaccharie Risacher has all the tools to excel in the big league. A strong defender with a wingspan of 2.10 m, he has developed a solid 3-point shot. His ability to create his own shot is undoubtedly his main achievement. From there to becoming one of the faces of the league in the coming years? “He has a long way to go but I think he can reach the level of Tatum,” sketches Michael Cunningham. He has the profile to be a star on both ends of the pitch and make his team win. But this will not happen until the Hawks have transformed a game focused on the backs and a defensive workforce, towards a game based on tall wingers who complicate things for opponents. »

2024-06-30 09:48:11
#Report #steps #Zaccharie #Risacher #Atlanta #Basket #USA