Don't look now, but Zaccharie Risacher looks very, very ready to take a second year leap.
The No. 1 overall pick from the 2024 NBA Draft showed flashes as a rookie, but this preseason, he looks like a shooting star.
We'll let you watch some of his recent highlights before digging into this more:
Zaccharie Risacher might be ready for a Year 2 leap pic.twitter.com/cxN5gNLeTt
— NBA University (@NBA_University) October 17, 2025
MORE: Why a Kevin Durant contract extension with the Rockets depends on $10 million
Someone in the comments said he looks like a DeMar DeRozan who shoots 3s.
Whoever you want to compare him to, that guy looks like a star.
Risacher started 73 of the 75 games he played in as a rookie. He averaged 12.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.7 steals per game.
He was also a 35.5% shooter from 3-point range, a bit streaky from that distance but also showing he's capable of filling it up from out there.
Risacher was also an underratedly excellent cutter. A lot of his hoops came from well-timed movement to get feeds from Trae Young.
The Hawks will again rely on Risacher as a starter this season. The addition of Kristaps Porzingis may conceptually push Risacher down a notch in the pecking order.
But if he plays up to his potential, Risacher can be the guy to push the Hawks over the top in 2025-26, and beyond.
More NBA News:
- Nikola Topic's testicular injury for OKC Thunder won't sideline him as long as you'd think
- The Mavs already have a D'Angelo Russell dilemma
- Why Russell Westbrook signed with the Sacramento Kings after a long free agent wait
- Jalen Johnson is key for the Hawks for this reason
- Ausar Thompson is changing things up for the Pistons
- The 1 thing that could lead to a Giannis trade from the Bucks