ATLANTA — For Zaccharie Risacher, it was the right begin to an NBA profession of such promise.
A large-open look from outdoors the 3-point stripe.
Nothing however internet.
However the French teenager rapidly discovered what a steep studying curve he faces in his rookie season with the Atlanta Hawks.
Risacher, the league’s No. 1 draft decide, missed his subsequent six pictures and completed the evening with simply seven factors on 2-of-8 taking pictures.
Nonetheless, he was all smiles after the Hawks held on towards the Brooklyn Nets for a 120-116 victory within the season opener Wednesday.
“It was superb,” Risacher stated. “That is a dream come true. I actually loved it. I am glad we gained and on to the following one. I can not wait to play one other recreation in two days. That is gonna be enjoyable. Simply attempt to preserve profitable, you already know.”
The slender, 19-year-old ahead made his debut with 3:43 left within the first quarter, drawing a giant cheer from the sellout crowd at State Farm Area. Whereas the Hawks are in a little bit of a rebuilding mode, they’re relying on Risacher to assist take the franchise to heights it has not often skilled in Atlanta.
“It was positively a particular second,” he stated. “I am tremendous comfortable to be right here and I can really feel round me the enjoyment and good vibes. I am tremendous grateful to be part of this group, this metropolis.”
The cheers grew even louder when Risacher knocked down a 3 with the primary shot of his profession.
“That was like the right scenario,” he stated. “I used to be open on the transition move and, yeah, it was superb. The proper, good technique to get my first bucket.”
From there, it was removed from perfection.
Of his six misses, three have been from past the arc. He turned the ball over when his foot nicked the sideline as he tried to launch one other shot from lengthy vary. His solely different basket got here with just below 10 minutes left within the recreation — a thunderous dunk off a bounce move from Hawks star Trae Younger.
“I wasn’t as environment friendly as I am used to being, in order that was just a little bit disappointing to me,” Risacher stated. “But it surely’s a part of the sport.”
He is aware of it’ll take some time to get absolutely snug enjoying at such the next stage than he was accustomed to in France.
“I am solely 19, so this can be a massive adjustment for me,” Risacher stated. “I will be higher and higher and higher.”
The numbers won’t have been a lot to crow about, however Hawks coach Quin Snyder was happy with what he bought out of his prized rookie in 19 minutes of enjoying time.
“I assumed he did a very good job,” Snyder stated. “The purpose of emphasis is you are not going to make pictures each evening. How do you affect the sport different methods, whether or not it is a move or a reduce defensively?”
Regardless that the pictures weren’t falling, Snyder was happy that Risacher had the boldness to maintain firing away.
“You do not cease taking pictures,” the coach stated, “as a result of he is a very good shooter.”
