Washington (AFP) – French teenager Zaccharie Risacher, the top overall pick in last month’s NBA Draft, has signed with the Atlanta Hawks, the team said Saturday.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but under the league’s rookie salary scale the 19-year-old forward is expected to make $57 million over four years.
The deal appeared all but done on Friday when the Hawks released their official Summer League roster with Risacher included in the 13-strong squad.
Risacher, who stands 6-foot-9 (2.06m) and was named the 2023-24 French League best Young Player, was the second Frenchman in a row to be chosen number one after Victor Wembanyama was taken by the San Antonio Spurs with the top pick last year.
The Hawks snagged him with their first top overall pick since 1975 and will be hoping he can help them improve on their 10th-place finish in the Eastern Conference last season, which was followed by a loss to Chicago in the play-in.
It was the second straight season the Hawks came up short in the play-in tournament.
Risacher most recently suited up for JL Bourg, appearing in 32 French League Pro A regular season games and starting in 23, averaging 10.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
He helped spark the club to the EuroCup final, which was won by Paris Basketball, and became the second-youngest player to be named the EuroCup Rising Star.
Risacher, who played two seasons with ASVEL before joining JL Bourg, made his senior national team debut with France in February at the EuroBasket 2025 qualifiers.
© 2024 AFP
