NBA Draft report for Zaccharie Risacher

Most of the recent mainstream draft reports have Zaccharie Risacher in strong consideration for the top overall spot in the 2024 NBA Draft. 

The 19-year-old measured at 6-foot-8.5 with a 6-foot-9.5 wingspan at the NBA Draft Combine in Treviso, Italy, and he also had an 8-foot-11 standing reach. That length, combined with above-average athleticism, a nice foundation as an outside shooter and proven production at a high level of international basketball lead Risacher stand out in a weak draft class. 

And while he might not look the part of a traditional No. 1 pick, it’s easy to see why he’s viewed as a top-five prospect by almost every NBA front office.

With Risacher, the jumper is the place to start. This season, Risacher shot 38.7% from three across 65 games with JL Bourg. That number is extremely promising, especially when you combine it with the fact that he combines his good size and length with a very high release. 

He’s going to be able to shoot over pretty much anyone. And if Risacher can get to the NBA and shoot roughly 40.0% from deep, he’ll undoubtedly be a big part of his team’s future — and make himself a boatload of money.

The problem with Risacher is that he shot 32.1% from three in 39 games in 2021-22, and he shot an even worse 30.7% in 50 games in 2022-23. So did Risacher make drastic improvements as a shooter, or is this year simply an outlier? His 70.7% shooting from the free throw line suggests the latter. 

But Risacher has at least shown a good feel as a shooter, as well as real confidence in his shot. He plays the game like he’s a knockdown shooter, constantly hovering around the three-point line and displaying a great understanding of how and when to get open. 

There’s also very little hesitation when he catches the ball. All of that, combined with his superb shooting in his team’s postseason, makes it easy to give him the benefit of the doubt. But there’s a lot of pressure on front offices to figure out whether or not the shot will translate, as there’s essentially no chance he’ll live up to his billing if he’s just average from behind the three-point line.

Risacher doesn’t have a lot in his offensive arsenal right now. The teenager’s offensive game is dependent on the three-point shooting, as he’s either hitting triples or leveraging his shooting gravity to cut to the basket and finish at the rim. Risacher is also adept at attacking closeouts. But there’s not much else in his bag.

Risacher doesn’t look comfortable using his dribble to get to the basket or create separation. And he’s not going to make a lot of shots off the bounce. On top of that, he’s not as efficient as you’d like when finishing around the basket. So if he’s not hitting spot-up threes or movement threes, or using his tantalizing physical tools to score in transition, he might struggle to impact games offensively in the NBA. 

However, the good news is that Risacher is young and willing to work. And he does look pretty smooth when handling the basketball. He just needs to sharpen things up and figure out some go-to moves. 

But generally speaking, he has a lot of room for growth, especially if he lands in the right situation. And he seems like a hard worker, which is a good indicator for future improvement. 

Risacher is also one of the most impressive wing defenders in this draft class, which is why he’s viewed as the prototypical 3-and-D player. Risacher might not be an explosive athlete, and he doesn't have top-end speed. But he moves really well laterally and he has great defensive instincts. He’s also way more coordinated than most players with his combination of size and length.

Risacher has all the tools to eventually be a guy that can take on the toughest assignment on a nightly basis. He just needs to add a little bit of weight to his frame. 

The Frenchman is also extremely reliable within team defensive concepts. He’s not somebody that will be burned by falling asleep off the ball. He stays very engaged and occasionally creates turnovers or contests shots at the rim. 

It was also nice to see Risacher defending in some high-leverage playoff spots. He was trusted to hold his own defensively in a league with grown men, and he did more than just that. That should mean that his defense will translate extremely quickly at the next level.

Realistically, it’s easy to see the appeal with a player like Risascher. Fluid wings who can shoot the basketball are as valuable as any archetype in the league, so the Frenchman’s low-end outcome still makes him a very valuable piece in a puzzle. If he is strictly a spot-up shooter that also plays at a high level on the defensive end, he’ll likely be a long-term starter and impact winning in a big way. 

The question is whether or not that jumper will be as deadly as it needs to be in order to justify him being one of the first players picked in the draft. Because as far as the on-ball creation goes, there’s a chance it never happens. So NBA teams better be confident that he can at least turn into the 3-and-D player he’s projected to be.