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NBA Draft 2024: France’s Zaccharie Risacher is the highest decide
As predicted by the bookmakers, the French expertise Zaccharie Risacher was chosen first within the draft: The 19-year-old goes to the Atlanta Hawks, who gained the draft lottery. Risacher is the fourth greatest worldwide decide in draft historical past after Yao Ming (Rockets, 2002), Andrea Bargnani (Raptors, 2006) and his teammate Victor Wembanyama, who was chosen by the San Antonio Spurs in 2023.
“It is a blessing for me,” stated the ahead. “I am very excited and emotional proper now. I do not even know what to say.” Risacher performed for JL Bourg within the French first division final season. His father Stephane Risacher gained a silver medal with the French nationwide group on the 2000 Olympics. On the Hawks, Risacher may even be liable for bettering the group’s protection round level guard Trae Younger – who was one of many worst within the league in 2023/24.
The second decide additionally comes from France: the Washington Wizards chosen Middle Alex Sarr. Along with Tidjane Salaün (sixth to the Charlotte Hornets) and Pacome Dadiet (previously Ratiopharm Ulm, twenty fifth to the New York Knicks) there have been 4 Frenchmen within the 1st spherical of the draft. “This reveals how a lot expertise we’ve got in France,” Sarr emphasised. “Our nationwide group might be actually robust.”
On the video games in Paris this summer time, the French group might be joined by Wembanyama and Defensive Participant of the Yr Rudy Gobert (Minnesota) among the many opponents in opposition to defending champion Workforce USA and world champion Germany.