Atlanta Hawks select Zaccharie Risacher with No. 1 pick in NBA Draft

The pick is in and Zaccharie Risacher is the first name called in the 2024 NBA Draft.

The Atlanta Hawks have selected the 19-year-old French forward as the No. 1 overall pick in the draft on Wednesday night. Risacher spent last season overseas with the Mincidelice JL Bourg of Betclic Élite in France.

The 6-9 forward averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists last season on 44% shooting from the field and 35% from deep.

Risacher now joins an Atlanta roster that includes star guards Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. With the Hawks missing the postseason and finishing with a 36-46 record, the franchise hopes Risacher is a beneficial piece as questions loom elsewhere on the roster.

Moments after Risacher’s name was called, fellow Frenchman Alex Sarr was taken No. 2 overall by the Washington Wizards. Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard was picked third by the Houston Rockets. The Spurs selected UConn’s Stephon Castle fourth while the Detroit Pistons selected G League Ignite forward Ron Holland II fifth overall.

Risacher is the second straight international player to be selected first overall after the Spurs used its top pick on Victor Wembanyama a year ago. The Hawks’ selection on Wednesday marks the fourth ever international pick to be picked first.