Hawks use 1st overall selection on France’s Risacher

The Atlanta Hawks picked French forward Zaccharie Risacher with the 1^st overall selection in today’s NBA Draft.

He becomes the 2^nd straight international prospect – and 4^th overall – to be selected with the number 1 selection in the draft. Risacher follows fellow Frenchman Victor Wembanyama, who was selected 1^st by the Spurs in the 2023 NBA Draft.

With the 1st pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks select Zaccharie Risacher! pic.twitter.com/TH713LZYPF

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) June 27, 2024

Italian big man Andrea Bargnani was picked 1^st by the Raptors in 2006, while the Rockets drafted 1^st overall Hall of Fame center Yao Ming in 2002.

Zaccharie (19) competed this past campaign for JL Bourg in France’s LNB Elite league and averaged 11 points and 4 boards across both the EuroCup and the French league.

Risacher was the favorite to be picked 1^st overall at the 2024 NBA Draft with the Hawks which jumped from the 11^th place to the 1^st place in the NBA’s Draft Lottery in May for the 1^st time in organization history.

More on this topic:

NBA planning to start European League, confirms FIBA president

The Wizards picked Alex Sarr also from France with the 2^nd overall pick at the draft, while the Rockets chose Reed Sheppard 3^rd overall from Kentucky.

Victor Wembanyama 1st pick en 2023.

Zaccharie Risacher 1st pick en 2024.

Alexandre Sarr 2nd pick en 2024.

HISTORIQUE ! 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/MsTKC2UydC

— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) June 27, 2024