Grading Zaccharie Risacher's 1st NBA start: Hawks rookie steps up

That is one down and, hopefully, many more to come for Atlanta Hawks rookie and No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft Zaccharie Risacher.

He made his first career start in place of the injured De’Andre Hunter, and while there were some expected hiccups, Risacher was the second-best Hawks starter in their 128-104 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

One could argue he was the best, given the high number of turnovers for Trae Young.

Risacher finished with 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal in just under 27 minutes of action.

He was a minus-17, which was the second-best mark among the Hawks’ starters behind only Clint Capela. The 6-foot-10 rookie continued to struggle from long distance, failing to connect on either of his three-pointers attempted.

Risacher is shooting 20% from downtown through three games.

Still, his first foray as a starter showed the 19-year-old wing will be a stat-sheet stuffer once he gets his feet underneath him.

How long that will take depends on several factors, including how those ahead of him play when they get back. This is valuable starting experience for Risacher now, though whether or not it means the Hawks should shake up the starting lineup permanently is another story.

Zaccharie Risacher could be best served as Hawks' super-sub

Hawks head coach Quin Snyder downplayed the significance of starting and pointed to closing games as being at least equally important. He was rewarded in his stance with several players proving they should keep their starting jobs to open the season, namely Hunter.

Hunter is averaging career-highs across the board with 18.0 points, 6.5 boards, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steals while shooting 40% from beyond the arc.

The Hawks won both of his starts and lost his first absence of the season.

Hunter is questionable for the Hawks’ home date versus the Washington Wizards in the first leg of a home-and-home. Risacher figures to have a chance to show his first start was no fluke and that he will indeed be ready sooner rather than later.

Until then, though, bringing him along in this way makes plenty of sense, especially given the versatility of the rest of the Hawks’ roster.

The current injuries – Bogdan Bogdanovic is out versus the Wizards – are hindering that.

It is clear why the Hawks envision Risacher, along with fourth-year forward Jalen Johnson, as central figures for them going forward. That vision is another reason why Risacher’s time in the starting lineup is to be expected before too long.

His first outing only reinforced what was apparent in 2K25 Summer League, the preseason, and in his first NBA game: Risacher is as skilled and fearless as advertised.

It is a matter of time before he puts it all together.

Grade – A