Welcome to Atlanta Zacc Risacher

[Jamaaliver]

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[tbhawksfan1]

I see Bog Ris and Dyson as a three way tag team. They are going to get a lot of SG / SF mins. A question to ask is who do you want on the court when Trae sits? The team falling apart in non Trae mins is a thing

[jayu70]

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[Jamaaliver]

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[tbhawksfan1]

:o

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Makes sense and applies to almost every draftee...most just won't say it

[Jamaaliver]

Makes sense and applies to almost every draftee...most just won't say it

[jayu70]

A look inside Hawks top pick Zaccharie Risacher's preparation for first NBA season

Atlanta Hawks

October 7, 202412:27 PM EDT

Bogdan Bogdanovic, now the oldest player on the Hawks roster at 32 years of age, doesn't have any magic words of wisdom for rookie Zaccharie Risacher.

"I think he will still need to go through the hard part, you know?" Bogdanovic said. "There is no skipping steps. We can tell him what we see, what we feel. But everyone has a different path." 

Like the 19-year-old Risacher, Bogi came to the NBA after playing professionally in Europe. However, he does not hesitate to note the dissimilarities.

"He was drafted here. When I came to Sacramento, I was 25. I wasn't drafted there, so (it's two) completely different situations."

Even if the circumstances vary, Bogi thinks the solution is the same for everyone.

"I feel like you just need to put in work," he said. "In my opinion, the work will take care of itself. That's what I think. Honestly."

To hear him say it, Risacher embraces the work process. After a busy spring that took him to the postseason in both the French Pro A League and Eurocup, he went through the pre-draft process before the Hawks selected him with the No. 1 overall pick. In July, Risacher went to Las Vegas Summer League with the Hawks.

Then the behind-the-scenes work began.

"It's amazing to be here and ask people around me to prepare me for the season," Risacher said. "There is a job on the court but also off the court with all the physio training and everything. It's intense, and you've got to be 100 percent on the court for the practice, and then after practice, (be) 100 percent with the physical preparation. And that's a good thing to do. I know what kind of player I want to be."

Like many NBA 19 year olds, a big item on Risacher's to-do list is to get bigger and stronger. And it almost goes without saying: To get bigger, he has to eat more. 

"I already knew like the healing (and eating) stuff was important, and I was doing as much as I could, you know?" he said. "But I will say that I was by myself to do that in France. Now there is a chef, and there are a lot of people who can help me for that. I would say that now I'm eating more – not every hour, but every two hours – I get something, so that it's smarter than just three big meals and getting tired of eating big portions. It's more like the approach is a little bit smarter, because there (are) professionals, and back in France, I was by myself to do it." 

He appreciates having a chef help with his dietary intake whether it's breakfast at home in the morning or a protein shake after practice at the training facility. 

"I'm super happy to be in that position, so I can take care of all the basketball stuff, which I consider for me right now (to be) more important."

One of the reasons that Risacher's physical development is simultaneously both crucial and fascinating is that he can already do so many things at a young age: He shoots the ball well. He moves smartly and adeptly off the ball. He has the length to be a defensive presence. At Summer League, he showed he could pass the ball while also minimizing turnovers. 

Zaccharie is also athletic, but dealing with the increased athleticism around him in the NBA is another standard part of the learning curve.

"I feel like back in France, I was super athletic," he said. "I'm not saying there are not athletic people in Europe, but there are definitely more people who can run fast and jump high here (in the NBA) than in Europe."

If Risacher has been impressed by NBA athletes, NBA athletes have been impressed by Risacher. When asked who has excelled beyond expectation in training camp, Jalen Johnson started his list with kudos for his rookie teammate.

"Zacch has been awfully impressive," Johnson said.

General Manager Landry Fields said at Media Day that he wanted to upgrade the roster in two ways this offseason: finding more players who function and contribute offensively without the ball in their hands and finding more impact defenders. He counts Risacher as someone who can grow to do both.

"We feel great about Zacch and his progress and how he attacks his everyday work," Fields said. "He has already been a pro for some time, so it is good to see where he is,  and it is good to see at (age) 19 where he could ultimately go. We're very thrilled so far with what we have seen, and I think his ceiling is unbelievably high."

Risacher has not skipped any steps thus far this summer, and Hawks fans get to see his next one when he takes the court Tuesday for the Hawks' preseason opener. His rookie season should be a memorable one.

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[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

You called it, HMFFL.

Zacc looked wonderful in his debut.

Personally, Zaccherie Risacher is my guy, so I'm all for just selecting him first overall.

He's going to be very special.

Zaach can create his own shot and eventually he's going to bring the ball up when Trae's not on the court.

Zaach doesn't need Trae to get him open looks because he can create his own shot.

He needs touches and he will make things happen on his own.

[jayu70]

All Zacc!!!

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[Jamaaliver]

Zacc was literally setting screens in Game 1.

You called it!!

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Trae is going to do two things to make life a lot easier for Ris; P&R for strong looks at the rim and setting him up for open threes...

You're predicting that Zacc will be a frequent screener/roll man in PnR situations?

Spoiler:

I'm thinking that we have a lot more guys capable of rolling / cutting to the rim:

[Jamaaliver]

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[tbhawksfan1]

Zacc was literally setting screens in Game 1.

You called it!!

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You're predicting that Zacc will be a frequent screener/roll man in PnR situations?

Spoiler:

I'm thinking that we have a lot more guys capable of rolling / cutting to the rim:

THe team played exactly as I hoped / expected. Love the movement, size, versatility and passing. Trae is going to run that horn P&R with anyone at any time with all the 6'8"+ teammates

[jayu70]

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[jayu70]

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[jayu70]

1 game sample, but still

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[Jamaaliver]

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