Zaccharie Risacher marvels at ‘dream coming true’ before landing Hawks No. 1 pick on ‘special’ night of NBA Draft

EVEN before Zaccharie Risacher donned his Atlanta Hawks cap to begin the 2024 NBA Draft, it was already a magnificent night for the Frenchman.

“It’s amazing,” the 6-foot-9 forward told The US Sun just under an hour before being drafted No. 1 overall.

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“This is basically a dream come true.”

Risacher, 19, said he couldn’t wait to hear Adam Silver announce where he would begin his NBA career — even though he had a good idea of ​​what would happen when he took the stage at Barclays Center.

In the preceding months, it had seemed increasingly clear that the first overall pick would come from France for the second season in a row, following the arrival of Victor Wembanyama 12 months earlier.

Closer to Draft Night, it was evident that the former JL Bourg star would go to Atlanta rather than his compatriot Alex Sarr, who went second overall to the Washington Wizards.

Risacher got there leaving everything on both ends of the floor.

He has developed into a versatile wing who can knock down 3s and also block the opposing team’s stars – a player who is practically a must-have for championship contenders these days.

The Frenchman thrived in his first year at JL Bourg, winning the French League (LNB) Best Young Player and EuroCup Rising Star awards.

He averaged 11.1 points and four rebounds while shooting 38.7% from deep last season.

Risacher trusted himself to develop in France. Now he celebrated across the pond, on basketball’s biggest stage.

“I’m very proud of the process – all these years I’ve achieved as a player,” he said.

“And now I’m at my own table in the NBA draft. This is something special.

“I’m really proud of it… All the years I spent, trying to be a better version of myself every day.”

Risacher will often see familiar faces on the field once his NBA career officially begins.

The forward grew up playing alongside Sarr and the Charlotte Hornets’ No. 6 pick Tidjane Salaun.

He will also rely on guidance from Wembanyama, with whom he shared the ASVEL Basket locker room during the 2021-22 LNB season – although, the new Hawks star revealed, Wemby did not offer him any advice before the draft.

“But I’m sure he wished me the best,” Risacher said.

But the Frenchman knows his life is about to become very different, whether it’s all the interviews he will have to conduct in English or the very different approach to professional sports he will have to take.

“I think it’s a lifestyle I’m not used to,” he told reporters after officially becoming the top pick in the 2024 draft.

“I’m talking about the gym, the cold showers, the locker room, whatever.

“I feel like I could basically sleep in the gym. In Bourg-en-Bresse, which is also a great gym, but not as good as the Hawks’.

“I can actually sleep in the gym.”

However, it’s all just part of Risarcher’s dream that came true Thursday night.