The Atlanta Hawks selected French forward Zaccharie Risacher with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, marking the third time in league history that the top two picks have not played college basketball. Fellow Frenchman Alexandre Sarr was taken second by the Washington Wizards. The draft featured a number of other notable selections, including Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard, UConn’s Stephon Castle, and G League Ignite’s Ron Holland II.
Zaccharie Risacher, the NBA’s projected No.1 pick, is eager to follow in the footsteps of fellow countryman Victor Wembanyama and play in the NBA. The 19-year-old has been averaging 10.4 points and 3.4 rebounds in 23 minutes per game with JL Bourg this season and is excited about the prospect of making the leap to the NBA later this year. Risacher was part of the French team that won silver at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and is looking to make his mark on the world stage. Despite a long and challenging season, Risacher is feeling strong heading into the climax and is confident in his abilities.
French basketball phenom Zaccharie Risacher’s declaration for the 2024 NBA draft underscores a growing trend of foreign-born players shaping the league. Since 2011, five first overall draft picks have been foreign-born, including Kyrie Irving, Andrew Wiggins, and most recently, Wemby of France. The dominance extends beyond first picks, with the top three MVP vote-getters in 2022-2023 coming from Cameroon, Serbia, and Greece. Stars like Luka Dončić, Rudy Gobert, Kristaps Porzingis, and Domantas Sabonis also hail from overseas. While the NBA has always been global, foreign players are now becoming the sport’s centerpieces, challenging the historical dominance of American-born stars.
Zaccharie Risacher, the son of a six-time French League All-Star, has had a breakout season for French club Bourg. The 18-year-old wing is expected to be one of the first players selected in the 2023 NBA Draft. Risacher possesses a well-rounded skill set, including positional size, on-court intelligence, scoring ability, playmaking, and solid defense. While he doesn’t excel in any one area, his all-around game and developmental potential make him an attractive prospect.
