NBA draft 2024: Atlanta Hawks take France's Zaccharie Risacher as No 1 pick
The Atlanta Hawks chose French player Zaccharie Risacher as their top pick in the 2024 NBA draft, making him the first selection for the second consecutive year.
Risacher's fellow countryman, Victor Wembanyama, was selected as the top pick in the draft a year ago by the San Antonio Spurs.
Risacher is the fourth overseas player to be selected as the number one pick in the draft, with him and Wembanyama joining the ranks of Italy's Andrea Bargnani, who was picked by the Toronto Raptors in 2006, and China's Yao Ming, who was signed by the Houston Rockets in 2002.
The person from France told ESPN: "It's a gift. Very thrilling. There are many emotions and feelings at the moment. I'm speechless, but it's truly exceptional. I feel very lucky."
Risacher's most recent team was JL Bourg-en-Bresse in the top tier basketball league in France.
The teenager, who had a strong performance in 32 games last season with an average of 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 0.9 assists, is set to sign a four-year deal worth $57.2 million with the Hawks, as reported by Spotrac.
Another player from France, Alexandre Sarr, was picked by the Washington Wizards as the second overall pick. This was only the third time in NBA history that the top two picks did not come from college.
Sarr, who is 19 years old, played for the Perth Wildcats in Australia's National Basketball League during the 2023-24 season. He scored an average of 9.4 points, grabbed 4.3 rebounds, and made 1.5 blocks in 27 games.
Kentucky's Reed Sheppard was picked by the Houston Rockets as the third overall selection, UConn's Stephon Castle was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs at fourth, and Ron Holland II from G League Ignite was selected by the Detroit Pistons to complete the top five picks.
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