NBA – Two years ago, Zaccharie Risacher completed an internship in Atlanta. Two years later, here he was selected by the Hawks, and future teammate of Trae Young and Clint Capela.
From the moment Alexandre Sarr did not want to try out with the Hawks, Zacharie Risacher was the big favorite to be selected by the Hawks in first place in the Draft. The son of Stéphane Risacher, present in the “green room”, succeeds Victor Wembanyama, and he will join Bryan George, French assistant coach of the Hawks since last summer. We collected his first words just after he shook Adam Silver's hand.
You have just been selected in first place in this 2024 draft, what is your feeling?
It's incredible, it's difficult to put into words what I felt, it was indescribable. I feel great, I finally know which team I'm going to play for. Hearing my name from Adam Silver and seeing my family's reaction is a moment I will never forget. I began to realize what had just happened during the process.
I tried to prepare myself for any eventuality (including a transfer). That's the beauty of the draft: we don't know where we're going to land until the last second and which team is going to give us a chance.
How did you manage the wait in the green room?
It was an emotional elevator: at the beginning, we see the cameras coming but we realize that they are everywhere. At that moment, my heart was beating at 200 miles per hour. Once I heard my name, I didn't immediately realize what had just happened. Falling into the arms of my family and walking on the stage, that's when I realized that I was indeed an NBA player.
What are your next dreams in the NBA?
Winning a championship ring is the goal. It's been the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one for an hour now. There are new goals in my head and I will try to do my best to integrate this team and directly help them win.
Do you know Atlanta?
Yes, two years ago, I did ten days of training camp with my agent (Doug Neustadt, the same as Boris Diaw) so I was able to discover the city. I also returned there once my season in France was over for a week before starting workouts with the franchise. It's really the only city I know in the United States so it's pretty special to be able to play there.
How will you manage this media pressure?
I will do anything to play in the NBA. Responding to the media is part of the job: it’s the life we decided to lead. There are worse jobs, you get paid to do what you love, playing basketball. Even if it's not my favorite, I'll do it without complaining, being afraid or anything.
Comments collected in New York.
