A year after seeing Victor Wembanyama make history by becoming the first Frenchman to be selected in first position in the NBA Draft, French basketball did even better for this 2025 edition of this talent “stock market”.
Indeed with Zaccharie Risacher chosen in first position by the Atlanta Hawks and Alexandre Sarr, selected by the Washington Wizards in second place, France thus becomes the third country, after the United States and Canada, to have two nationals chosen number 1 for two consecutive years. “I am really proud to contribute to the success of my country”explained Zaccharie Risacher at a press conference.
But the evening did not end there for French basketball since Tidjane Salaün was called to join the stage in 6th position after being chosen by the Charlotte Hornets, much higher than expected for him. “I’m a little shakenhe admitted. Sixth is huge. Now it’s off to work. » Finally Pacome Dadiet (n°25 by New York), completed this unprecedented evening for France.
“Victor Wembanyama inspired me a lot”
A 19-year-old, 2.06 m winger, Zaccharie Risacher joins Atlanta, an already competitive team, which came close to the playoffs last season, a rarity in a system designed to allow the most mediocre sporting franchises to choose the best newcomers. “It’s incredible, it’s difficult to put into words what I felt, because it was indescribabledeclared the number 1 of the 2024 Draft. It was the emotional elevator. » Before continuing, « Victor (of the flesh) has inspired me a lot these last two years, as he has done for many young French players”.
This is the conclusion of a prosperous season for the ASVEL player who had bet on a loan to Bourg-en-Bresse. In Ain, the youngest Frenchman to have played in the Euroleague (16 years and 10 months) benefited from significant playing time (23 minutes on average) and took on a new dimension. He notably progressed in outside shooting and showed that he did not shy away from contact, despite a slender physique, facing seasoned players, older than him. He completed this campaign by raising the tone in the playoffs, with an average of 14 points and a peak of 28 points.
In Atlanta, which had not chosen in first position since 1975, he will join an already very extensive external sector. The Hawks have, in fact, the diabolical shooter Trae Young, the do-it-all guard Dejounte Murray, both of whom have already been selected for the All-Star Game, as well as the promising young winger Jalen Johnson (22 years old).
Zaccharie Risacher cites his father, Stéphane Risacher, a former international silver medalist at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, as his first influence. The two share a natural elegance and extraordinary fluidity of movement.
Although he has already been a two-time world medalist in youth categories, Zaccharie Risacher was nevertheless not included in the extended selection for the Paris Games.
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Alex Sarr joins Bilal Coulibaly
Alexandre Sarr (2.16 m and also 19) will head to Washington. This team, chronically weak in defense, will need its size, scope and mobility to improve its standing.
Unlike Risacher, who was trained entirely in France, Sarr has had a number of careers, from Real Madrid’s youth teams to the Australian NBL league, via the American youth training system Overtime Elite.
The center, also a world medalist in the youth category alongside Zaccharie Risacher, will be reunited in the capital of the United States with another Frenchman, Bilal Coulibaly, who had a very promising first season with the Wizards.
