NBA Draft

Hawks Rookie and Top Pick Zaccharie Risacher Turns in Another Strong Performance

Atlanta's rookie wing has produced multiple solid outings this season, giving the Hawks hope that the team could have a solid young core.

Randall Sweet

Apr 10, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (10) dunks against the Brooklyn Nets during the third quarter at Barclays Center.
Apr 10, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (10) dunks against the Brooklyn Nets during the third quarter at Barclays Center. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
In this story:

The Atlanta Hawks have been stuck in the middle of the NBA over the past few years.

Atlanta hasn't been talented enough to be one of the Eastern Conference's premier teams since Trae Young led the team to the Eastern Conference Finals against Milwaukee in 2021. While the Hawks weren't a postseason contender, Atlanta also was never bad enough to land a top draft pick.

That was, until last summer.

After being ousted from the 2024 Play-In Tournament by the Chicago Bulls, the Hawks had just a 3% chance to land the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft Lottery. With that pick, Atlanta drafted Zaccharie Risacher, a French wing prospect who has developed into a solid player for the Hawks.

In Thursday night's win against Brooklyn, Risacher scored a game-high 38 points, shooting 15-of-20 from the field and 6-of-11 from 3-point range. The 20-year-old rookie also recorded four rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block against the Nets.

Risacher has been a key contributor this season for a Hawks team that has a chance to reach the playoffs with a few wins in the Play-In Tournament. The former No. 1 overall pick has played in 73 games, making 71 starts for a squad that is currently No. 8 in the Eastern Conference.

In his 73 appearances this year, Risacher is averaging 12.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 45.8% from the field and 35.5% from beyond the arc. While Risacher's stats aren't eye-popping, he has been solid for a rookie, operating as a key role player on a potential playoff team.

Moving forward, the Hawks front office should feel optimistic about the team's future trajectory after seeing what Risacher has been in his first year. Alongside superstar Trae Young, who is still only 26-years-old, the Hawks could have a solid core of players heading into next season.

If Atlanta is able to add a few more pieces in free agency or the NBA Draft, the group could be one of the Eastern Conference's more competitive teams in the near future. In addition to Risacher and Young, up-and-comers like Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu have all shown promise this year and could make for an impressive squad in the coming seasons.

Want to join the discussion? Like Draft Digest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest NBA Draft news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.

Published
Randall Sweet
RANDALL SWEET

Randall Sweet is a 2022 Oklahoma University graduate who has formerly written for the Norman Transcript and OU Daily. Randall also serves as the Communications Coordinator at Visit OKC.

Home/NBA Rookies