Despite losing Trae Young to a knee injury in late October, Atlanta has climbed to a 10-7 record, going 8-4 in games without Trae thus far.
While they're firmly in the playoff race as of now, currently sitting at 7th in the East, Atlanta has relied on their bench depth to survive this Trae-less stretch. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Vit Krejci have taken a real leap in Trae's absence, but this has only further highlighted a glaring issue for the Hawks.
Zaccharie Risacher is not contributing to the level he needs to be
Through 14 games, the former 2023 #1 overall pick has put up modest numbers, averaging 12 points and 2 rebounds in 24 minutes a game. This comes as a concern seeing his rookie numbers, which were far better across the board.
In 2024, Risacher dropped 14 points and 4 rebounds a night in the same number of minutes. Furthermore, his efficiency numbers in his rookie season were far better than his sophomore campaign so far, with his 3P% taking a significant decrease this season.
It's not that Zaccharie Risacher hasn't been a contributing member to this strong start, but the concern lies in the context of the situation. Before Trae Young's injury, Risacher was expected to step up into a bigger role this season. Even after his absence, Risacher has still struggled to carve out a role for himself.
During this stretch, Atlanta's depth has began to thrive, and Risacher has been left in the shadows as a result of it. Dyson Daniels has made significant strides in his offensive game, and Onyeka Okongwu continues to build off of his strong start. Many other depth forwards like Asa Newell and Mo Gueye have made a bigger splash in their respective roles.
Yet, Zaccharie Risacher has continued to be a non-factor in the grand scheme of this team's outlook, and it's hard to pinpoint why that is.
Risacher may demand more respect than he's warranted
The truth is that opponents have adjusted to Risacher's game all the while Risacher hasn't performed enough to rise above these adjustments. Teams are no longer viewing Risacher as some irrelevant lottery pick, they are forced to view Risacher as a young, developing wing, even if his offensive output hasn't truly signaled that.
But his issues lie more in the mental aspect rather than a physical aspect. We know Risacher has the physical tools to be a star in this league, it's one of the main reasons why Atlanta took him with the #1 overall pick. The problem lies in Risacher's ability to embrace the physical role he's being asked to play in.
There is still a clear path for success for Risacher
It's a good thing that his physical tools aren't what ownership is worrying about, but Risacher has to learn how to simplify this game to himself, and it's a story that's all too familiar in the NBA. When highly touted recruits are on the come-up, they carry a sort of moxy and confidence in their ability. Some recruits rise to the occasion, and truly make the most of their developmental years to thrive in these bigger roles.
Other recruits on the other hand, like what we're seeing in Risacher's case, begin to second guess their abilities in their first experience with NBA competition. When the game comes so easy to some people, there's a chance they never truly develop that drive and killer instinct that is crucial to succeed in this league.
Risacher must embrace this hurdle, but also realize that it's a hurdle that he's placed onto himself. Everyone in the Hawks organization can see the physical tools he possesses, it's just up to him to see these traits for himself.
Risacher must learn to lean into his aggressive nature that got him so highly recruited in the first place. Atlanta drafted him for his shooting ability and his size, and so far, we've only seen Risacher become more and more hesitant to shoot the rock.
None of these issues are something that a solid team chemistry can't fix. Risacher is still a developing player, so it may be useful for him to connect closer with the pieces around him that have already passed through their developmental stages. Guys like Dyson Daniels and Jalen Johnson have made impressive strides in their game year after year, and Risacher has no reason not to follow suit.
One thing is clear though: Risacher can't continue to stall in his development if Atlanta wants to continue to be a presence in the East. While his sophomore slump has raised concerns, it's not something that can't be reversed.
With Trae Young's injury window nearing its end, it will be interesting to see what the contrast is with Risacher's performance with Trae and without Trae. Either way, the outcome will give the Hawk's organization a better idea of what they need to assess regarding Risacher's development.
If Trae's return sparks life back into Risacher, then that's amazing. But if it doesn't, then there's something underlying his physical gifts that have halted his development, something the Hawk's can mitigate better than any physical weakness he could possibly have.