Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher. Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Zaccharie Risacher is showing why he was the top overall pick

By Adam Taylor | Last updated Nov 26, 2024 8:35 AM ET

Zaccharie Risacher joined the Atlanta Hawks as the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Due to this year's class being seen as a weak one, there was little fanfare for his arrival in the NBA. However, over his first 18 games in the league, he's begun to show signs that he's capable of becoming an All-Star-level talent.

Risacher is averaging 11.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 38.3 percent from the field and 25 percent from deep. On offense, he's had moments where he appears to be an elite scoring talent and others where it's clear he's still acclimating to his new surroundings. The same can be said on defense. However, he's fared better on that side of the floor.

Nevertheless, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder has been impressed with what he's seen so far.

"He’s been a pleasure to coach; he’s a great teammate," Snyder said on Monday. "The one thing people weren’t most aware of is his versatility on defense. He’s had to guard a lot of matchups. He guarded on the perimeter in the Eurocup and the French League, but we’ve asked him to do that in a lot of significant matchups. He’s risen to the occasion on that. I think he’s having a heck of a year and looking forward to continuing to see him grow."

Risacher is in a unique position for being a top draft pick. He's currently behind Trae Young and Jalen Johnson on offense, making him the third option. While that takes some of the pressure off his shoulders, it also means that his opportunities to showcase his complete skill set are limited.

Still, Risacher's upside means the Hawks are well-positioned for their soft rebuild to begin picking up speed. Of course, there must be a level of patience as the young forward continues to improve and round out his skill set. That process could take multiple years, but given the roster's overall age, everything is working toward a similar timeline.

The Hawks have a talented and young roster. Risacher has helped complete their starting unit of the future. Whether the front office can stay the course and let the team develop will remain to be seen, but right now, the future looks bright for Atlanta and Risacher.

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor is a sports journalist based out of the UK. Adam has been covering the NBA for nearly a decade with a core focus on the Boston Celtics. He currently holds bylines with Yardbarker, SB Nation and USA Today

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