Zaccharie Risacher, proper, poses for a photograph with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being chosen as the primary total decide by the Atlanta Hawks within the first spherical of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photograph/Julia Nikhinson)
NEW YORK— First, Victor Wembanyama, now Zaccharie Risacher.
Today, American faculty gamers have to attend their flip within the NBA draft. It’s another person’s time on the high.
Vive la France!
The Atlanta Hawks took Risacher with the No. 1 decide Wednesday evening and France landed three gamers within the high six in a historic evening for the nation.
“That’s superb,” Risacher mentioned. “We attempt to characterize our nation and so, glad to be part of it. You realize there may be extra gamers coming in.”
READ: Zaccharie Risacher chosen by Hawks with high decide in NBA Draft
Risacher doesn’t include the big peak or hype of Wembanyama, the towering heart who went to San Antonio final yr and went on to win the Rookie of the Yr award.
However the Hawks noticed him as the only option in what has been considered as a draft absent of elite expertise.
The 19-year-old ahead was the winner of the perfect younger participant award within the French League final season and beat out fellow Frenchman Alex Sarr within the race to be the highest decide.
When he did, it made NBA draft historical past. That is the primary time that the draft has gone consecutive years with out the No. 1 decide being somebody who performed at an American faculty.
“Exhibits the quantity of expertise we now have in France,” Sarr mentioned. “Actually excited for Zach. I believe our nationwide crew goes to be actually good.”
READ: NBA draft could possibly be ‘particular’ evening for France
Sarr went second to the Washington Wizards after enjoying final yr with Perth in Australia’s Nationwide Basketball League.
The Hawks had solely a 3% likelihood of profitable the lottery to earn the No. 1 decide, and there was no apparent alternative ready as soon as they did. Most mock drafts had been cut up between Risacher and Sarr, and Atlanta additionally labored out UConn heart Donovan Clingan.
Houston made Kentucky freshman Reed Sheppard the No. 3 decide. A one-and-done faculty participant had topped the draft for 13 straight years from 2010-22 earlier than Wembanyama ended that streak.
Now the draft is beneath French rule.
Stephon Citadel of the two-time reigning nationwide champion Huskies made it two straight faculty freshmen when San Antonio took him at No. 4, the Spurs’ first of two picks within the high 10. Additionally they held the No. 8 choice — although they dealt the rights to that decide, Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham, to Minnesota.
Zaccharie Risacher waits for the beginning of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photograph/Julia Nikhinson)
However the Spurs are holding onto Citadel, who had a cellphone name with Wembanyama and may now throw passes to him to ease his transition from Dan Hurley in his previous house to Gregg Popovich in his new one.
“I used to be simply enjoying for the perfect coach in faculty basketball and now flipping to the NBA and going to play for a legendary coach like Coach Pop, it’s a blessing,” Citadel mentioned.
The Detroit Pistons took Ron Holland of the G League Ignite with the fifth decide earlier than the Hornets took Tidjane Salaun, who performed final yr for Cholet Basket in France.
“I believe the basketball in France is improved that’s why we’re right here on this draft,” Saluan mentioned.
Clingan, who gained titles in each seasons in Storrs, lastly went to Portland at No. 7.
The draft moved to a two-night format this yr, with the primary spherical being held as ordinary at Barclays Middle in Brooklyn and the second spherical to be held Thursday at ESPN’s Seaport District studios.
The inexperienced room was crammed with a variety of unfamiliar faces who will head to the NBA from different leagues or different international locations. A participant who would have been one of the recognizable was not within the area: Zach Edey, the two-time AP Participant of the Yr from Purdue, was taken at No. 9 by Memphis.
One other All-American, Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht, went decrease than predicted, after dropping from an anticipated lottery decide to the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 17.
The Knicks had back-to-back picks because the spherical dragged towards the end, however their followers had rather more to cheer with the strikes they made earlier than the draft. New York made a deal to amass Mikal Bridges from Brooklyn on Tuesday, then obtained OG Anunoby to agree to stick with the crew on a five-year contract value greater than $210 million on Wednesday.
Bronny James was not drafted within the first spherical, although LeBron James’ son had one in every of his USC teammates taken simply earlier than the evening ended, with Isaiah Collier going to Utah with the No. 29 choice.
The primary spherical then wrapped up with the NBA champion Boston Celtics taking Baylor Scheierman from Creighton.
