After weeks of deliberation, the Hawks used the No. 1 overall pick to select France's Zaccharie Risacher.
Risacher, 19, is a 6-9 sharpshooter who burst onto the scene during the 2023-24 season with JL Bourg of France's LNB Pro A. And while Risacher was named the league's Best Young Player for the 2023-24 season, one of his opponents with NBA experience had a bold take that may concern Hawks fans.
What was said about the Hawks' selection of Risacher? Here is more on the criticism of Risacher.
SN'S NBA DRAFT HQ: Live picks tracker | Pick-by-pick grades | 2-round mock
Former NBA player critical of Hawks No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher
Frank Mason, who starred for four years at Kansas and has spent four seasons in the NBA, had an alarming take on Risacher's NBA prospects.
"Played this young guy in France this past season; no way he’s the number one pick in the NBA draft lol, but I guess!" Mason posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Mason, who last played in the NBA in 2021, spent the past two seasons with SLUC Nancy Basket in France's LNB Pro A.
Played this young guy in France this past season; no way he’s the number one pick in the NBA draft lol, but I guess!
— Frank Mason (@FrankMason0) June 27, 2024
Risacher, who averaged 10.1 points per game for JL Bourg in 2023-24, faced Mason's Nancy Basket team twice during the season. Mason is not present on the box score for either matchup but Risacher's JL Bourg team earned a 2-0 sweep over Nancy.
In the first meeting on Dec. 23, Risacher scored 11 points (on 3-of-6 shooting) and pulled down four rebounds as JL Bourg earned an 85-59 win. The two teams met again on May 4 and Risacher scored 10 points (on 3-of-9 shooting) and grabbed eight boards in a 103-78 win over Nancy.
Risacher essentially turned in his season averages in the two meetings against Mason's teams.
Mason, who was the National College Player of the Year as a senior in 2017, was the No. 34 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. During his time in Kansas, he played alongside a trio of top-five picks in Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid and Josh Jackson as well as another first-rounder in Kelly Oubre Jr.
Given his history and familiarity with what it takes to be a top pick, Mason's assessment could be a product of what he's seen in the past in contrast to what he saw from Risacher.
