Atlanta Hawks take Zaccharie Risacher of France first overall in NBA ...

3 days ago

Spectrum News NY1

The French Revolution has come to the NBA.

French wing Zaccharie Risacher, 19, was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft.

What You Need To Know French wing Zaccharie Risacher was selected first overall by the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday in the 2024 NBA Draft
Risacher's selection marks the second-straight year that the top selection came from France after the San Antonio Spurs picked Victor Wembanyama first overall last year
Alexandre Sarr, another French player, was drafted second overall by the Washington Wizards NBA commissioner Adam Silver kicked off the night by honoring the recent deaths of two NBA giants, Bill Walton, who died on May 27 at 71, and Jerry West, who died on June 12 at 86

Risacher, who has been projected as one of the top defenders in this year's rookie class, will join a once-exciting Hawks franchise that's stumbled over the last few years despite the promise of star point guard Trae Young.

His selection marks the second straight year that the top overall selection comes from France.

Last year, the San Antonio Spurs picked Victor Wembanyama first overall. Wembanyama, who was widely predicted as a potential franchise-changing talent, made good on that promise, winning the NBA's Rookie of the Year award unanimously.

Fellow Frenchmen Alexandre Sarr and Tidjane Salaun soon followed Risacher's selection.

Sarr, a 7-foot-1-inch center most recently played in the Australian NBL, was selected second overall by the Washington Wizards. Salaun, a 6-foot 10-inch forward, was taken sixth overall by the Charlotte Hornets; he most recently played in France's LNB. Later in the first round, the New York Knicks selected another French-born player, Pacome Dadiet,

Their selections made NBA history multiple times over.

It's the first time in NBA history that international players were taken with the top two picks and the first time three international players from one country were taken in the top 10 of an NBA Draft.

Most of the excitement occurred less than 24 hours before the draft, as the New York Knicks went all in, trading a raft of draft picks and veteran player Bojan Bogdanovic to the Brooklyn Nets for Mikal Bridges.

Bridges, a 27-year-old wing, is renowned for his defense, though he foundered a bit after moving to Brooklyn from the Phoenix Suns two years ago. His move across the East River links him with a handful of former college teammates and friends from his alma mater, Villanova University.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver kicked off the night by honoring the recent deaths of two NBA giants, Bill Walton, who died on May 27 at 71, and Jerry West, who died on June 12 at 86.

Walton was a two-time NCAA champion and a two-time NBA champion, one each with the Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics, a passing big man whose career was derailed by injuries. But he became beloved as a personality off the court and on the microphone, especially as he sought to boost the college game in his later years.

West, a singularly driven competitor, was one of the greatest players in the storied history of the Los Angeles Lakers and the league. A three-time inductee to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, he won only one championship as a player but contributed nine as a basketball executive, building dynasties with the Lakers and the Golden State Warriors.

West also holds a singular honor: He's the inspiration for the NBA's logo.

2024 NBA Draft First Round selections:

1. Atlanta Hawks, Zaccharie Risacher

2. Washington Wizards, Alexandre Sarr

3. Houston Rockets, Reed Sheppard

4. San Antonio Spurs, Stephon Castle

5. Detroit Pistons, Ron Holland II

6. Charlotte Hornets, Tidjane Salaun

7. Portland Trail Blazers, Donovan Clingan

8. San Antonio Spurs, Rob Dillingham (Traded to Minnesota)

9. Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Edey

10. Utah Jazz, Cody Williams