Historical. Never has a country outside the United States managed to place two players in the first two places in the NBA draft, the selection of the best basketball prospects.
Cock-a-doodle Doo ! French basketball reigns over the NBA… or rather will reign over the American courts. Last night, in Brooklyn, the draft took place, the selection of the best prospects called to join NBA franchises. And after Victor Wembanyama, last season, it was Zaccharie Risacher and Alexandre Sarr who were chosen in the first two places, the first by the Atlanta Hawks, the second by the Washington Wizards.
A winger like his father Stéphane, silver medalist at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 (his sister Ainhoa is also a great hope in French basketball), Zaccharie Risacher, aged 19 and native of Malaga in Spain, was trained at ‘Asvel before joining Bourg. Best hope of the French championship, he was part of the French under-19 team which won silver at the world championships in 2023. “It’s incredible, it’s difficult to put into words what I I could feel, because it was indescribable,” said the number one in the 2024 Draft. “It was the emotional elevator. Victor (Wembanyama) has inspired me a lot over the last two years, as he has done for many young French players,” he added.
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Tall for a 3 position – 2m06 -, Zaccharie Risacher has everything to make his mark on American courts, notably an outside shot like a legacy from his father… At the Atlanta Hawks, very disappointing last year, he will play with one of the best point guards in the league, the eccentric Trae Young.
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Four French players selected
Alexandre Sarr was therefore chosen second by the Washington Wizards. Brother of Olivier Sarr, also an NBA player, this tall pivot (2m16) played in the Australian professional championship last season, just to toughen up away from media pressure. He joins a franchise which already includes a French player in its squad, winger Bilal Coulibaly. Alexandre Sarr was also part of the French under-19 team, vice-world champion.
Two other French players were chosen during this historic vintage: the Charlotte Hornets selected Tidjane Salaün, 18-year-old winger, who impressed during the Adidas Next Generation Tournament, and Pacôme Dadiet, chosen in 25th position by the Charlotte Hornets. New York Knicks. A winger, he played for the German club Ratiopharm Ulm.
