Zaccharie Risacher has been growing into his role with the Atlanta Hawks.
Chosen by the Atlanta Hawks as the No. 1 pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, the French sensation was still viewed as a project, still only 19-years-old.
Yet slowly but surely, Zaccharie Risacher has managed to get over the hump and familiarize himself within the league, emerging as a significant contributor for the team as a promising wingman.
In his rookie campaign thus far, Risacher is averaging 11.9 points, 3.7 boards, and 1.2 assists.
It is not bad even for a top overall pick. He started in 60 of his 62 total appearances for the Hawks, playing both as a shooting guard and a small forward.
No other player in the Hawks has been as bullish as Trae Young about the potential and brilliance of Risacher. And according to the Atlanta franchise star, an eventual All-Star in 2025, the 19-year-old must be considered this season’s Rookie of the Year.
“He should be, in my eyes, and I’m not saying it because I’m biased, but I think (he) should be Rookie of the Year,” Young told Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“What he’s been doing this year, he’s been thrown into the fire as a starter. You put him up against some of the guys in the running.
“I think his numbers speak for himself, too. So he’s just not even focused on that. And that’s the best part about it.
“And we’re kind of, we’re kind of making it easy for him to just focus on the game, focus himself and having fun and having games like tonight, and just letting it loose and letting it fly.”
Unlike most of the individual awards this 2024-25, the Rookie of the Year race doesn’t relatively draw much noise across the league.
There are some considerable names who could emerge and ultimately claim the trophy. With Victor Wembanyama out indefinitely due to blood clot issues and De’Aaron Fox sidelined for the rest of the year with finger surgery incoming, Stephon Castle has a strong chance to maximize on his increased opportunity within the San Antonio Spurs.
Alex Sarr, who recently made history, deserves some appreciation as well for the Washington Wizards.
While Jaylen Wells has been huge for the Memphis Grizzlies, helping the team’s comeback season and climb atop the Western Conference standing as their starting small forward.
From his statistics and impact, Risacher is definitely a strong contender for the ROTY award, joining a fellow Hawks star for another marquee award.
