Zaccharie Risacher was the perfect choice for the Atlanta Hawks

Many Atlanta Hawks fans were unsure about Zaccharie Risacher heading into this year’s NBA draft. Alexandre Sarr proved to be an obvious choice for many, despite his inability to attend a workout with the Hawks.

While Sarr has been incredibly bad shooting (0-of-15 in his last game) in Summer League play, Risacher still hasn’t had the kind of offensive explosion some fans expect from a No. 1 pick. Many of Risacher’s teammates are battling for two-way contracts and training camp deals, so the ball hasn’t found the rookie as often as expected.

However, Hawks fans need not worry as Risacher will prove to be the perfect fit for Atlanta.

At 6’1” and athletic, Risacher has the perfect build for a modern NBA forward. The French teenager has immense two-way potential, and he’s already shown his ability to defend multiple positions in his pre-draft video. The Summer Hawks also threw him in at shooting guard, relying on skills that could classify him as a hybrid wing-shooter.

While his Summer League numbers haven’t quite hit the mark yet, Risacher has shown some intangible qualities that were evident during his time in France. From disciplined off-ball movement to high-level positioning on the board, the versatile rookie does a lot of dirty work that will go unnoticed by the casual fan.

Risacher An underrated game and his ability to switch tactics on defense should allow him to thrive at the pace the Hawks like to play. His versatility will allow him to slot easily into any lineup next season, and Atlanta fans should be pleased about that.

Risacher hasn’t generated the least amount of pre-draft excitement for a No. 1 pick in a long time, but he’ll help win basketball sooner than most fans think.

Many analysts and pundits have suggested that Risacher would struggle to create his own shot, which would hamper his chances of becoming a star. At just 19 years old, Risacher has time to improve his ball handling, shooting, and creativity. His size and IQ should allow him to develop his scoring abilities faster than most, and he has had impressive moments as an aggressive isolation scorer in Europe and the Summer League.

Countless fans have called this year’s draft one of the worst in recent history, and that seems to have affected the amount of research those fans have done leading up to draft night. Clearly, people haven’t done their homework on Risacher.

Given his age, fans shouldn’t underestimate Risacher’s potential simply because he hasn’t fully developed certain aspects of his game yet. Like Luka Doncic, Risacher made his Euroleague debut at 16 years old. A combination of raw talent and professional experience should allow a rookie Risacher to have a serious impact on the Hawks’ winning ways.

While many scouts and pundits doubted Risacher’s ball control and confidence before the draft, the Frenchman has enough potential to master both of those qualities. Take this coast-to-coast Summer League grand slam, for example.

Risacher has already shown plenty of eagerness to get the regular season underway with his new teammates. He spoke with Hawks reporter Jameelah Johnson about the support players like Trae Young have provided in Las Vegas.

“It’s awesome. You can see how special next season is going to be. They’re here to support us,” Risacher told Jameelah Johnson of atlhawksfans on July 16. “It means something, especially for rookies like me. I’m really grateful for that.”

Risacher has plenty of qualities that point to a very high level. From his flexibility in the lineup to his two-way motor, Zacch Attack is a consistent three-point shooter far from one of the NBA’s highest levels. However, he also has an untapped talent that points to a high ceiling. Given his promising work ethic, Risacher could easily become a dribble threat with three-point scoring prowess.

The Hawks’ decision to take Risacher over Sarr should have pleased more fans right from the start. Regardless of how Risacher finishes Summer League, Atlanta will have high hopes for the future.

The Hawks got the right player. Hopefully they get the most out of him.