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Hall of Famer and Atlanta Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins shared his thoughts on No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher ahead of the 2024-25 regular season.
“He’s young, man,” Wilkins said of Risacher. “What is this kid, 19? He’s skilled. He’s skilled, but you gotta be able to give him time. Give him time. He’s gonna be just fine. Believe me, he’s gonna be just fine.”
The Hawks are in an interesting situation where they may be able to give Risacher some time to come along slowly in the NBA even though he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Atlanta was not expected to get the top pick this offseason, but it won the lottery, giving the franchise a chance to get an impact player. Risacher could end up being a very solid 3-and-D player on the wing – and maybe more – but as Wilkins mentioned he’s a young prospect.
With the Hawks trading Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans this offseason, it’s clear they’re looking to retool the roster around star guard Trae Young.
Atlanta still has some solid options at the forward spot, including Jalen Johnson and De’Andre Hunter, so it may not expect Risacher to step into a big role from day one.
That should help the youngster get his footing at the NBA level.
Risacher showcased some intriguing scoring ability during Summer League, but he likely won’t have the impact that last year’s No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama had right away at the NBA level.
Still, Atlanta could find itself in a position to contend a few seasons from now with Risacher as a key contributor if it allows him to develop his game around Young, Johnson and others.
A nine-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA selection, Wilkins was the No. 3 overall pick in the 1982 NBA Draft. He led the NBA in scoring in the 1985-86 season averaging 30.3 points per game. He finished second in the MVP voting that season and earned his first All-Star appearance.
One of the greatest players in Hawks history, Wilkins seems very supportive of Risacher and his game ahead of his rookie season. Hopefully, the Hawks rookie gets a chance to potentially learn from Wilkins during his time in Atlanta.
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