Quin Snyder is Olympian calm. The one we could see coming to life on the Jazz bench takes a completely different approach with the Hawks. The main reason? The youth of its workforce.
“Dyson (Daniels) is 21, Zacch (Risacher) is 19, JJ (Jalen Johnson) is 22, and all three are starters. So it's normal to have ups and downs. There is something for everyone, but in particular with young players who are looking for their place and their role in our team and in the NBA” he explained. “I often use the expression “long term” because our evolution will not be linear. We know it and we keep it in mind. »
For Zaccharie Risacher, the coach does not forget that the entire NBA environment but also everyday life in the United States is new for the French player, and he knows how hard it can be to digest. That said, he is happy with what he sees from the winger, without worrying about his statistical performance.
“Since the Draft, what has impressed me about him is his state of mind”
“It’s a big change for him, on the pitch but also off it” he recalls. “Since the Draft, what has impressed me about him is his state of mind. There's no point in analyzing each of these matches closely and drawing conclusions, it's far too early. But on the other hand, what we give importance to is everything else. And since he's been with us, he's been a sponge and a worker. That's all we can ask of him. He listens, he learns from his mistakes, and he puts our advice into practice immediately. Having this foundation is fundamental, the rest will come. »
This trip to Las Vegas for the “Final Four” of the NBA Cup is therefore another opportunity for Zaccharie Risacher and the other young Hawks to continue their education in the NBA.
“Our approach with them is simple. We have moments like this weekend, matches like today and the question we ask ourselves is: 'What can we learn from this?'. Experiencing these kinds of moments at a young age is a fantastic experience. For them, there is a lot of opportunity to learn from this season. »
Comments collected in Las Vegas.
