Historic night for French basketball. One year after Victor Wembanyama, Zaccharie Risacher (2.07 m, 19 years old) also had the honor of being chosen first in the NBA draft, this Wednesday evening in New York. The son of Stéphane Risacher, Olympic silver medalist in 2000, was selected by the Atlanta Hawks after a more than successful season with JL Bourg, both collectively (Eurocup final, Betclic Elite semi-finals) and individually (best young player in the Eurocup and the Championship). A complete winger, a formidable shooter, Zaccharie Risacher should now rub shoulders with superstar Trae Young – if he is not traded this summer.
A few moments after Risacher, it was Alexandre Sarr (2.16 m, 19 years old) who was invited to join the Barclay Center stage in Brooklyn to shake the hand of Adam Silver, boss of the NBA, and don the cap of the Wizards, holders of the 2nd choice of this 2024 draft. The pivot, who played this season in Perth (Australia), will meet his compatriot Bilal Coulibaly in Washington, 7th choice of the 2023 draft. A slender interior, big defender and gifted with a long-range shot, Sarr joins a young team, in full reconstruction. In the NBA, he could cross paths with his brother Olivier, player of Ohlahoma City, to whom he paid tribute at length this Wednesday.
Unheard of for a country outside the USA
From blue-white-red to first, second… and sixth place in the draft. Tidjane Salaün, who has long been projected around places 10-15, seduced the Charlotte Hornets who used their pick No. 6 to get their hands on the Cholet winger (2.06 m, 18 years old). The brother of international Janelle Salaün had seen his rating rise in recent days and therefore becomes the 4th highest French drafted, after Wembanyama and his two friends from the 2024 class.
Never has a country outside the United States placed two players in the first two places in an NBA draft. Never has a country outside the United States seen three of its young talents enter the top 10 of the same draft. Two feats achieved by French basketball last night.
