Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher may never escape the expectations that come with being the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. That's made a challenging second season all the more difficult to stomach, as he's struggled to secure consistent playing time as his flaws have risen to the surface.
When many were busy writing Risacher off, however, he experienced a colossal career breakthrough by establishing a potentially elite skill in March: His three-point shooting.
Risacher shot 35.5 percent from beyond the arc as a rookie and has increased his efficiency to 37.9 percent in year two. That's a promising sign, but it's still not the elite level of reliability from beyond the arc that can help a player build their game around a specific skill.
Risacher has made progress toward that personal achievement, however, with a month of March that revealed sincerely elite potential as a three-point shooter.
Risacher averaged 9.1 points and 1.7 three-point field goals made in just 19.1 minutes per game. He did so while shooting with obscene efficiency, converting at a clip of .540/.521/.810 and adding 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks along the way.
In the process, Risacher ranked No. 1 in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage amongst players who attempted at least 3.0 treys per game during the month of March.
Zaccharie Risacher ranked No. 1 in 3PT FG% (min. 3.0 3PA) in March
With an apparent leap to elite efficiency as a three-point shooter, Risacher has bulit a platform upon which all other facets of his game can thrive. His proficiency from beyond the arc gives him an easy entry to playing minutes alongside Jalen Johnson, as well as the surplus of drive-and-kick guards.
If the per-36 production that Risacher managed in March can be sustained and translated to a per-game basis, then his future as a starter or sixth man would likely be secured.
Risacher finished March with averages of 17.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.3 blocks, and 3.1 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes. Those numbers speak for themselves as the type of production teams dream of from a complementary forward.
The question thus becomes whether Risacher's development in March can last across multiple months, with the obvious context of reaching a more sustainable level of efficiency.
If Risacher can be a true 40 percent three-point shooter, then the Hawks will find it much easier to justify his presence on the court. The rest of his game as an all-around scorer still needs refinement, particularly in the arena of creating his own offense.
If the progress Risacher made in March is a sign of things to come, however, then realizing his potential may be a more tangible feat than critics have let on.