Although imperfect, Zaccharie Risacher’s debut showed why the Atlanta Hawks selected him No. 1

One of the most unpleasant aspects of the NBA Summer League is the inevitable overreaction to rookie performances. After the NBA draft, it is the first opportunity for rookies to make their impressions and show what they can bring to their teams this fall. Good or bad, rookie performances are always under the microscope in Las Vegas. For Zaccharie Risacher, the Atlanta Hawks’ first-round pick, he passed his first NBA test.

It wasn’t a perfect performance for Risacher and it doesn’t make his Summer League an instant success, but Risacher showed glimpses of why the Hawks spent the first overall pick on him. He finished with 18 points on 7-16 shooting and 3-9 from three-point range. I thought Risacher’s shot selection was good and the fact that he wanted to continue shooting three-pointers was encouraging. Now, Risacher needs to start hitting those three-pointers at a higher rate, but he should have a better chance every time he’s on the court with Trae Young in the regular season.

I think what impressed me the most last night was Risacher’s playmaking and his passing ability. One of the criticisms of Risacher’s game before the NBA draft was that he wasn’t a good passer and wasn’t very efficient with the ball. Risacher found some open teammates last night and gave them good shots.

When he had the ball in his hands, Risacher not only showed a willingness to keep shooting, but he also put the ball on the floor and drove to the basket. He finished in the lane and looked crafty getting to the basket.

While he wasn’t great on defense, I think Risacher was too eager to help at times and left his opponent open. That will be fixed, but it’s something to watch for in the future. I also think last night he showed that in order to be able to defend some of the best wings in the NBA, he’s going to have to develop and get stronger, which will happen over time.

Risacher showed a number of qualities last night that should motivate Hawks fans. He showed his shooting ability, although he needs to be more efficient. He impressed with his passing ability, which surprised some, including myself. He showed his ability to score in a variety of ways and not just rely on three-pointers. His defense was solid, although it can be improved.

Last night wasn’t the best start to Summer League for a No. 1 overall pick in league history, but Risacher has received plenty of criticism for a No. 1 overall pick. He showed last night that he has the potential to have a versatile skill set that will help this team be better in 2024-25.