By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Revisiting his declining minutes with the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA, Zaccharie Risacher opened up about his complicated sophomore journey. In a recent interview on beIN Sports, relayed by BeBasket on Wednesday, the 21-year-old forward admitted that he felt a bit lost as the 2025–26 Regular Season progressed.
“It was a pretty frustrating season because the playing time I got just kept decreasing,” the former top draft pick confessed regarding his dynamic role change.
When asked about his relationship with the coaching staff and the communication surrounding his benching, the wing player admitted to feeling somewhat confused by the sudden rotation shift.
“You start to feel it a little. It’s not as clear as I would have liked,” he mentioned.
However, the former player of JL Bourg and LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in France refuses to feel sorry for himself or dwell on the setback.
“I’ve learned that sometimes, even if you do everything right, things don’t always go your way. I’ve learned that the NBA is, first and foremost, a business,” he acknowledged with maturity.
Despite the obstacles on the court, the son of former player Stephane Risacher insists he stayed mentally locked in throughout the challenging stretch.
“I had to concentrate more on myself, make sure I kept moving forward despite the adversity,” he said.
This operational resilience is fueled by an unwavering certainty regarding his long-term capability at the highest level.
“I belong on an NBA court. There’s no doubt about that. I have confidence in myself,” he stressed.
Now focused on the upcoming games with the senior national team of France in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers, Risacher arrives at training camp with renewed motivation.
“I’m joining the national team, eager to get back to playing basketball, I’m hungry for it,” he stressed.
During his second campaign, he logged 70 combined games, averaging 9.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per contest.
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