Zaccharie Risacher
A towering French wing whose smooth shooting and defensive instincts made him the coveted first pick in the 2024 NBA draft.
Born 2005 (age 21)·French basketball player·Birthday: April 8·Generation Z
Biography
Zaccharie Risacher represents the new archetype of the global basketball player: a lengthy, agile wing with a polished offensive game and switchable defensive potential. Growing up in a basketball family—his father, Stéphane, was also a professional—he was immersed in the sport from a young age. He developed his skills in the French junior system before making his professional debut with JL Bourg, where his combination of size, a reliable three-point shot, and defensive versatility quickly turned heads. His rapid ascent culminated in the 2024 NBA Draft, where the Atlanta Hawks selected him with the first overall pick, betting on his two-way potential to become a cornerstone for their franchise. His selection continued a remarkable streak of French players going first in the draft, signaling a seismic shift in the league's talent pipelines.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Zaccharie was born in 2005, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Zaccharie Was Born
The biggest hits of 2005
#1 Movie
Star Wars: Episode III
Best Picture
Crash
#1 TV Show
American Idol
Zaccharie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2005Born
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2010Started school
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2018Became a teenager
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2021Could drive
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2023Could vote
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Turned 21
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected first overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2024 NBA Draft.
- Won the Best Young Player award in the French LNB Pro A for the 2023-24 season.
- Helped lead JL Bourg to the finals of the EuroCup in 2024.
Did You Know?
His father, Stéphane Risacher, won a silver medal with France at the 2000 Olympic Games in basketball.
He played for the French national team at the 2023 FIBA Under-19 World Cup.
He stands 6 feet 9 inches tall but primarily plays the small forward position.
“I work on my shot every day; it's the most important skill.”
