Frenchman Zacharie Risacher, drafted in first position, signed his first very big performance in the NBA on Wednesday with 33 points scored during Atlanta's victory against the New York Knicks (121-116).
French No. 1 in the draft Zaccharie Risacher achieved his first major NBA performance with 33 points for a prestigious success for the Atlanta Hawks against the New York Knicks (121-116) on Wednesday. For his 9th game in the NBA, Risacher (19 years old) crushed his previous points record (17 on October 30), accumulating 22 points from the break, for a total of 33 points accompanied by 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 interceptions and 2 blocks, a very rare complete performance for a “rookie”.
Flamboyant in the first period, Risacher also kept up the pressure at the end of the match by scoring two free throws 4 seconds from time to close the game, after having missed two others a little earlier.
The young Frenchman arrived from Bourg-en-Bresse, son of ex-international Stéphane Risacher, displayed his versatility between shooting precision (11 out of 18, including 6 out of 10 from distance), aggressiveness near the circle and defensive ease in 37 minutes of play, his biggest total. Despite the 34 points from new New York interior Karl-Anthony Towns, Risacher allowed the Hawks to overcome the Knicks, outsiders for the NBA title, and achieve a 4th success this season (5 defeats).
“I’m tired,” smiled the Frenchman at the end of the meeting, the fourth in six days for the Hawks. According to ESPN, Risacher joined Victor Wembanyama, Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Lamar Odom among players to score 30 points and make multiple blocks and steals in a game before turning 20. He is even the only one of these players to have also scored five three-point baskets.
The 19-year-old explains this insolent success by the confidence granted by his coach Quin Snyder and the staff. “He’s basically telling me to shoot the damn ball,” he said. “It's not just from him. It's from all the members of the coaching staff and my teammates. It helps me have confidence in myself.”
