Atlanta Hawks take Zaccharie Risacher first overall in NBA draft for another French moment
Zaccharie Risacher walks across the stage after being selected as the Round One Number One draft pick by the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA basketball draft at Barclays Center on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
This was a vive la France (basketball) moment in downtown Brooklyn — again.
Zaccharie Risacher walked up first on the NBA Draft stage to meet commissioner Adam Silver Wednesday night at Barclays Center, just like 7-4 Victor Wembanyama did last June.
So this became the second time and the second straight year that a Frenchman was selected with the top overall pick. This time, the Atlanta Hawks took the 6-8 1/2 wing with skills at both ends.
Then came another vive la France (basketball) moment.
Alex Sarr walked up when he heard his name called as the second overall pick. Washington selected the 7-foot center who moves well and can protect the rim.
And so 2024 became the first year that two French players went 1-2, or in the top five for that matter, in a league that counted a record 14 of them on opening-night rosters last season and saw Wembanyama become the Rookie of the Year.
Oh, and then 6-9 forward Tidjane Salaun went sixth to Charlotte — three of the top six picks from France, the first time for any country not named the United States to land three in the top 10 of the same draft.
“I’m not shocked,” Risacher said. “I know Tidjane and Alex for a long time. We grew up playing against each other, so I know them really well. That’s amazing for our country.”
The Knicks made it four French first-rounders, taking 6-8 wing Pacome Dadiet at No. 25.
Risacher played for JL Bourg in 2023-24. He was named the French League’s Best Young Player. He averaged 10.1 points and 3.8 rebounds in 32 games of the French LNB domestic league.
Sarr averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.48 blocks in 27 games for Perth in Australia’s National Basketball League.
“It just shows the amount of talent we have in France,” Sarr said.
Houston used the third pick on the best three-point shooter in the D-I nation. Reed Sheppard, the 6-3 Kentucky guard, made 52.1% of his tries.
San Antonio also went for a guard at No. 4, choosing 6-5 1/2 Stephon Castle, the Big East Freshman of the Year for the repeat champs at UConn. Detroit took Ron Holland II at No. 5, a 6-6 1/2 wing from G League Ignite.
And Portland chose 7-2 center Donovan Clingan at No. 7 — two of the top seven picks from UConn. “It shows that we were the best program in college basketball,” Clingan said, “and they still are right now.”