Zaccharie Risacher flew out to the 2025 EuroBasket with hopes of showcasing his improvements. Unfortunately, it was affected by inconsistent playing time and performance. He has close ties with France’s head coach, Frederic Fathou, so his rotations were questionable to say the least.
The tournament kicked off against Belgium, where France decimated them 94-62. Risacher looked great, contributing 10 points and exerting a lot of effort on defense. He followed it up with a 12-point performance in a 103-95 win over Luka Doncic and Slovenia. It was a strong start for France at 2-0, but they faced adversity against Deni Advija and Israel.
Fortunately for Zaccharie, he got to showcase his well-rounded game, scoring 14 points, grabbing four rebounds, and gathering two steals and blocks. It didn’t impact the devastating 82-69 loss, but it was an excellent display of two-way basketball.
After suffering their first loss of the EuroBasket, they rebounded with an 83-76 win over Poland, but it was Risacher's worst performance of the entire 19-day event. He went scoreless in 15 minutes, missing every shot attempt inside and outside the arc.
It was an uncharacteristic performance for the former LNB All-Star, and he pacified his doubters with a 15-point performance in a 114-74 win over Iceland. France brutalized them on the boards, outrebounding them 35-23, and followed it up with terrific defense. The bounce-back performance would be the last victory of the 2025 EuroBasket for Risacher and the French National Team.
What did we learn, and how does it impact Atlanta?
While France was dominating their competition with a 4-1 EuroBasket record, the Georgians were battling their way through with a 2-3 record. All odds were against them after the +850 underdogs lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina 83-76 in the previous game. They stepped on the floor and shocked the entire basketball world by defeating France 80-70, ending Risacher’s hopes of claiming his first FIBA EuroBasket trophy.
Georgia lost to Utah Jazz centerpiece Lauri Markkanen and Finland 93-79 in the next game. France will have their opportunity for redemption in 2029, but Zaccharie is preparing to chase an NBA championship in his second year.
He will play a massive role in the Hawks' rotation this year, especially after the flashes he showcased in the EuroBasket. His athleticism and ability to absorb contact at the rim have increased exponentially. More importantly, his jumpshot looked outstanding in the games where he performed well.
Zaccharie was expected to make an immediate impact with his three-pointer, but shot 35.5% from behind the arc. It’s certainly not poor, but the 20-year-old shot 40% from three while playing overseas prior to the 2024 NBA Draft.
He shot 41% during the EuroBasket, and his defensive versatility was on display after France lost Center Alex Sarr due to a calf injury. He was guarding multiple positions, from guards to power forwards. His vast improvements have put Risacher on track to be a consistent contributor by the age of 22.
Averaging 12.6 points at 19 years old indicates he’ll become a lethal scorer if he can avoid injuries, and he’s showcased a burning desire to improve.