The Atlanta Hawks had the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday night and selected 19-year-old Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher.
At least one observer thinks it was a bad decision.
Frank Mason III, college basketball's 2017 National Player of the Year with the Kansas Jayhawks, expressed his opinion on the pick on social media after playing against Risacher, a 6-foot-8 forward, in France last year.
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Zaccharie Risacher of Bourg-en-Bresse drives to the basket during a game against Paris at the Adidas Arena on April 28, 2024, in Paris. (Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)
“I played with this young man in France last season; he is by no means the first pick in the NBA, hahaha! But I guess!” Mason posted on X. “He's a solid young player, but the first pick is absurd “.
Mason, the Sacramento Kings' 34th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, bounced around the league between 2017 and 2021, playing for the Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic before trying his luck overseas.
HAWKS SELECT FRENCH TEENAGER ZACCHARIE RISACHER WITH THE FIRST PICK IN THE NBA DRAFT
He joined SLUC Nancy in France's top league, Betclic Elite, where he averaged 15.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 21 games last season to earn an All-Star Game appearance.
Risacher also played in the ProA League with JL Bourg-en-Bresse, where he turned 18 for most of his 32 games. He averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game in 22 minutes.
Zaccharie Risacher smiles before the 2024 NBA Draft on June 26, 2024 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York (Mike Lawrence/NBAE via Getty Images)
Mason missed both games against JL Bourg-en-Bresse, which dominated SLUC Nancy, and Risacher scored 11 and 10 points in those games.
Mason isn't alone in his skepticism about Risacher playing in the NBA. The Ringer's Ryen Russillo believes others who played in France, including Risacher's teammates, were probably surprised when the Hawks called his name.
“I understand the positive side of it, but I imagine there are teammates of his in France who are saying, 'I can't believe that guy was the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft,'” Russillo said on the “Bill Simmons Podcast.”
Zaccharie Risacher, left, and Frank Mason III (Fake Images)
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Fellow Frenchman Alexandre Sarr was another favorite to get the first pick, but was selected by the Washington Wizards in second place.
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