While the jury may still be out as to how good of an NBA player Atlanta Hawks rookie Zaccharie Risacher will develop into, one thing may be for certain in the fact selecting Risacher with with No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft was the right move for the Hawks as the rookie was named to the 2025 All-Rookie 1st Team.
“As the season went on, he got a lot better and more confident,” Carl Dukes said on Tuesday as he and Mike Bell reacted to the Risacher announcement, becoming the 10th Hawks player in franchise history to earn the honor and the first since Trae Young. “He’s going to be just fine,” Dukes added as he shared his thoughts on what the future holds for the 19-year old Hawks rookie.
Risacher is joined by San Antonio’s Stephon Castle, who he finished second to in Rookie of the Year voting, Memphis’ Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells and Washington’s Alex Sarr, who was considered to be the top prospect in the 2024 draft and reportedly had no interest in being selected by the Hawks.
“We got a good thing in Risacher,” Bell said as he weighed in on the Hawks rookie who averaged 12.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game this season and their decision to select him with the first overall pick.