Zaccharie Risacher had an incredibly strong rookie performance last season, but the reason for his early success partly explains why he has stagnated this season.
Risacher was an incredibly unique selection at the first overall spot. Teams broadly understood there was no sure-fire franchise player available in the class of 2024, so the Hawks took a bold move: drafting the best role player available.
Risacher was their man, and the Hawks were instantly vindicated for their decision to select him during his rookie season. He immediately took over as the starter over fellow former top prospect De’Andre Hunter and was a clear upgrade despite an eight-year age gap.
Most rookies are clear negatives on the floor, particularly 19-year-olds like Risacher. But Risacher provided real two-way impact and was a genuinely productive player. He deserved Rookie of the Year over Stephon Castle, who, despite a marginally better box score output, was a clear negative for the Spurs.
Risacher’s growth moving forward will be slower than expected
Risacher has disappointed many Hawks fans this season with his inconsistent offensive play. While the most rash comments being made are simply overreactions to a cold shooting spell, Risacher’s step back highlights a troubling reality.
His unexpected impact as a rookie was enabled by his lengthy history of playing high-level professional ball. He made his first of 48 appearances as an overseas pro at just 16 years of age, which gave Risacher a unique chance to develop while competing against the best basketball players in the world.
The results were clear. Risacher was perhaps the most polished rookie under 21 years of age since Luke Doncic. He knew instinctively where to be on the floor; he was quicker in defensive rotations; he became a coach-favorite instantly.
But as other rookies from his class – Castle, Alex Sarr, Reed Sheppard – approach and surpass Risacher’s output, you realize his early dominance was partly an illusion. He deserved Rookie of the Year because he had the highest level of output, not because he was the most promising player. As his draft class competition adds veteran moves and status to their repertoire, Risacher’s advantage in this category diminishes.
There is only so much a player can add through high-IQ play – at a certain point, talent is at a premium. Risacher is an incredibly talented player, but he was never going to be the star of an NBA team. That’s just not the way he plays.
Risacher’s ceiling is as a premier 3&D role player, à la Mikal Bridges or Trey Murphy III. The Hawks could desperately use this sort of player, and Risacher seems likely to reach the heights of Bridges or Murphy with a year or two of development.
But as Castle, Sarr, and Sheppard break out, don’t expect an accompanying Risacher breakout.