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ATLANTA — Zaccharie Risacher kicked off his NBA career in a way that many dream of.
After scoring with his very first shot beyond the 3-point line, he felt elation.
However, the French rookie soon realized the challenges he would face in his inaugural season with the Atlanta Hawks.
Although he was the No. 1 draft pick, he struggled thereafter, missing his next six attempts and finishing with only seven points on a shooting record of 2-of-8.
Despite this, the young player maintained a positive outlook after the Hawks secured a 120-116 victory in their season opener on Wednesday.
“It was amazing,” Risacher expressed. “That’s a dream come true. I really enjoyed it. I’m glad we won and on to the next one. I can’t wait to play another game in two days. That’s gonna be fun. Just try to keep winning, you know.”

At just 19 years old, Risacher stepped onto the court with 3:43 remaining in the first quarter, prompting an enthusiastic response from the packed house at State Farm Arena.
As the Hawks navigate a rebuilding phase, they see Risacher as a key player to elevate the franchise to new heights.
“It was definitely a special moment,” he said. “I’m super happy to be here and I can feel around me the joy and good vibes. I’m super grateful to be a part of this organization, this city.”

The roar from the crowd intensified when Risacher landed his first-ever 3-pointer.
“That was like the perfect situation,” he recalled. “I was open on the transition pass and, yeah, it was amazing. The perfect, perfect way to get my first bucket.”

Sadly, his follow-up shots did not match that success.
Out of his six attempted shots, three were from beyond the arc.
He committed a turnover when he accidentally stepped out of bounds as he prepared to make another long-range attempt.
His second basket only came with less than 10 minutes left in the game, showcasing a powerful dunk from a bounce pass delivered by Hawks’ star player Trae Young.

“I wasn’t as efficient as I’m used to being, so that was a little bit disappointing to me,” he admitted. “But it’s part of the game.”
Risacher understands that adjusting to the NBA level from France will take time.
“I’m only 19, so this is a big adjustment for me,” he said. “I’ll be better and better and better.”

While his statistical performance wasn’t remarkable, Hawks coach Quin Snyder expressed satisfaction with his rookie’s 19 minutes of play.
“I thought he did a really good job,” Snyder stated. “The point of emphasis is you’re not going to make shots every night. How do you impact the game other ways, whether it’s a pass or a cut defensively?”

Snyder emphasized that even though the shots didn’t start off well, he appreciated Risacher’s willingness to keep shooting.
“You don’t stop shooting,” the coach said, “because he’s a really good shooter.”
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