Zaccharie Risacher could make or break the Hawks with 1 key skill

Many basketball pundits voiced concerns over Zaccharie Risacher’s overall skill set and ceiling for a No. 1 pick before and after the Atlanta Hawks drafted him. His new teammates and front office believe Risacher is ready to take the league by storm.

At Hawks Media Day, multiple members of the organization lauded Risacher for his work ethic and potential. Several Hawks have expressed excitement over the 19-year-old and his bright future since Atlanta drafted him in June.

When it comes to Risacher, there is one particular skill that could define how much of an impact he has in his rookie season. 

Zaccharie Risacher’s shooting could make or break the Hawks

Risacher has the perfect build for a modern-day NBA wing and positional versatility on both ends of the floor, but he will need to provide Atlanta with something much simpler as a rookie: consistent shooting.

If Risacher can support his promising off-ball movement and IQ with knockdown shooting, the Hawks could soar. Atlanta could roll out lineups full of length and shooting if the 6-foot-9 Risacher holds up as a floor-spacer, creating a path for the Hawks to drastically improve both their offense and defense.

Risacher’s jump shot has ebbed and flowed throughout his young pro career. The French teen thrived from beyond the arc in his last overseas playoff run, averaging 15.1 points on 37.8% shooting from three across seven contests. He shot 40.7% from deep during his three seasons in Europe, including a 17-game stretch of 56.1% 3-point shooting in the EuroCup tournament last year. 

However, the young gun could not find his jumper at Summer League this past July. Risacher shot 4-of-16 from three overall, albeit in just two games. He also shot 3-of-7 from the free-throw line. Nerves may have played a factor for Risacher, and he also handled more usage than he will see next to his teammates in Atlanta this season.

Despite Risacher’s Vegas struggles, multiple Hawks have talked about the No. 1 pick’s ability to shoot the ball. Most Hawks fans have already seen Risacher’s pure shooting form and smooth release, and he has clearly impressed his teammates in organized team activities and practices.

At Media Day, Garrison Mathews shouted out Risacher’s shooting. Mathews – a 44.0% 3-point shooter on 2.9 attempts per game last season – knows a thing or two about shooting the rock.

Trae Young praised Zaccharie Risacher for his all-around potential

Trae Young recently praised Risacher in an interview with DJ Siddiqi of Responsible Gambler that was published on September 27. The three-time All-Star praised Risacher’s shooting among other promising qualities.

“Zacch is going to be an unbelievable player,” Young said. “He’s very young, he’s only 19. He’s going to play most of the season as a 19-year-old … He can shoot it and he has a lot of skill. My first impressions are that he’s going to be great and he has a lot of upside to him. Looking forward to playing with him this season.”

Young, who has dished out the most assists in the NBA over the last five seasons, will look to make life easy for his new rook. Given Young’s ability to hit teammates on backdoor cuts and find his teammates open for three, Risacher should thrive as an off-ball beneficiary of Young’s playmaking wizardry. 

At his Media Day presser, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder pointed out Risacher’s elite work ethic.

“The thing that jumps out about Zacch is really his work ethic,” Snyder told Sidelines Atlanta. “That combination of hard work and being deliberate is something that bodes well for any young player as they progress in this league and begin to find themselves … that’s something that I think he’s focused on.”

Overall, the Hawks seem quite high on their potential future star. Zach Langley of Hawks Scoop said it best during Media Day:

"A common theme from everyone around the team throughout the offseason and media day: Zaccharie Risacher can shoot the hell out of the basketball," Langley posted on X on September 30.

As Risacher adapts to the pace of the NBA, he could become Atlanta’s ultimate 3-and-D wing with plenty of room to grow. The sky is the limit for the talented No. 1 pick, but he will make his floor as high as any if he can simply knock down his shots.

Surrounded by talented playmakers and shooters, Risacher should see more open looks within his team's offensive flow than your typical No. 1 pick. With Young running the show in Snyder’s pace-and-space system, everybody will have their chance to eat.

Only one question remains. Will Risacher make the most of his chances?