Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (10) waits to attempt his free throws during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
ATLANTA – For Zaccharie Risacher, it was the perfect start to such a promising NBA career.
An open look from outside the three-point range.
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Nothing more than net.
But the French teenager quickly learned the steep learning curve he faces in his rookie season with the Atlanta Hawks.
READ: Zaccharie Risacher, second in a row from France, was chosen number 1
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Risacher, the league's top draft pick, missed his next six shots and finished the night with just seven points on 2-of-8 shooting.
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Still, he was all smiles after the Hawks held on for a 120-116 victory in the season opener on Wednesday.
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“It was amazing,” Risacher said. “That is a dream come true. I really enjoyed it. I'm glad we won and moved on to the next one. I can't wait to play another game in two days. That will be fun. Try to keep winning, you know.”
The rangy 19-year-old forward made his debut with 3:43 left in the first quarter, drawing a standing ovation from the crowd at the State Farm Environment. While the Hawks are in rebuilding mode, they are counting on Risacher to help take the franchise to heights rarely experienced in Atlanta.
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“It was definitely a special moment,” he said. “I am super happy to be here and I can feel the joy and good vibes around me. “I am very grateful to be part of this organization, of this city.”
READ: NBA: Zaccharie Risacher focuses on 'good things', not pressure as first pick
The cheers grew even louder when Risacher hit a 3-pointer with the first shot of his career.
“That was the perfect situation,” he said. “I was open on the transition pass and, yeah, it was amazing. “The perfect, perfect way to get my first bucket.”
From there, it was far from perfect.
Of his six misses, three were from beyond the arc. He turned the ball over when his foot brushed the sideline while attempting another shot from long range. His only other basket came with just under 10 minutes left in the game: a thunderous dunk off a rebound pass from Hawks star Trae Younger.
“I wasn't as efficient as I used to be, so it was a little disappointing for me,” Risacher said. “But it's part of the game.”
He knows it will take a while for him to feel completely comfortable playing at a level as high as he was used to in France.
“I'm only 19 years old, so this is a big adjustment for me,” Risacher said. “I will get better and better.”
The numbers may not have been much to brag about, but Hawks coach Quin Snyder was pleased with what he got from his prized rookie in 19 minutes of play.
“I thought he did a really good job,” Snyder said. “The takeaway is that you're not going to make shots every night. How do you impact the game in other ways, whether it's a pass or a defensive cut?”
Although the shots weren't falling, Snyder was glad that Risacher had the confidence to keep shooting.
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“You don't stop shooting,” the coach said, “because he's a very good shooter.”
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