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For long minutes, Zaccharie Risacher remained prostrate at the bottom of his chair, in the Hawks locker room. Faced with his locker and back to the handful of journalists present, the French rookie took refuge behind his phone, taking the time to “scroll” to try to forget the immense disappointment that the Hawks had just suffered against the Heat, in the second round of the “Play-in”.
This wound is all the more lively for the Atlanta winger as he completely missed his match. Never, this season, Zaccharie Risacher had had such a disappointment with his shot.
Author of a 2+1 on a “Drive” in the 1st quarter, the best shooter in the Eurocup last season then experienced a ordeal: its ten other shots (including seven to 3-point) did not pierce the nets of the State Farm Arena and its playing time in the 4th quarter and in overtime has been reduced to Nest. Already in difficulty in shooting in Orlando (2/10) on Tuesday, he could not be there against Miami.
Eurobasket in the viewfinder
Despite this disappointment, the best rookie for the months of February and March of the East Conference did not parade and agreed to debrief this hot meeting, for Basket the USA. Moved by this elimination, the gaze fleeing at certain times of the interview, the number 1 of the last draft nourishes “A lot of regrets” (“It's my fault: me, Zaccharie Risacher, I did not put my shots”he said in particular) but recalls that “What is important (after such a match) is what we do with it and how we bounce back”.
A speech full of maturity for the young winger of just 20 years old, already shot this summer and his objective of medal with the French team, at the Eurobasket (from August 27 to September 14, 2025, in Latvia, in Cyprus, Finland and Poland).
Hot, what is your feeling about this defeat against Heat (123-114) and this elimination at the doors of the playoffs?
(He hesitates). A lot of regrets … It's a match we could have taken, he was within our reach. We played well collectively. Miami, too, they put complicated shots … We defended. We gave ourselves the means to win this match. It's always hard to comment on a hot match but I think we fought well. We left everything on the ground.
Individual, you are imagined very frustrated by your service. Is it your most complicated match this season in the NBA?
Individually, it was more complicated than expected, but it is part of the game. You have to know how to bounce back and move on. But indeed, my individual performance is below what I used to offer. It's hard to collect, especially since I used to be there for my teammates, this season. I wanted to help them this (Friday) evening, again and again …
“What is important (after such a match) is what we do with it and how we bounce back”
How do you explain this poor performance? What is the fault?
It's my fault: me, Zaccharie Risacher, I did not put my shots. There is no particular reason. I am not the type to point the finger at something in particular or to hide behind excuses. There are not 15,000 other explanations.
How can this non-match be beneficial to you?
There is never non-match or underperformance. We always learn from his mistakes. It is often said that we learn more in defeat and it is true. It is not a pleasant feeling but this match will be important (for the rest of my career), especially when you are young. (Dyson Daniels interrupts the interview to greet him and says: “We see ourselves in Saint-Tropez!”). We learn a lot, that's how we gain experience. You can't always be perfect. What is important (after such a match) is what we do with it and how we bounce back.
“Summer will be long but I also love the” Offseason “because it is a time when I can live the life of a normal young age …”
What will your program be between today and the start of preparation for Eurobasket with the French team at the end of July?
At first, I will return to France to see my family and recharge the batteries. And I will start to take a quiet possession of the premises (where he will spend most of his time in France), whether it is the room where I am going to train, the Muscu room or my apartment. After spending a few weeks in France, I will come back to Atlanta to work at the Hawks training center and afterwards, I will see day by day.
I will also take the opportunity to rest from this 82 game season (84, in reality), because it has had an impact on my body. I may be young, I have never played so much on a season and even less on such a short period.
Summer will be a long time but in the same way that I love everything that is happening for a season -whether in the NBA or in Europe -, I also love the “Offseason” because it is a time when I can live the life of a normal young age -to be with my family and spend time with my friends -and take advantage of it to become even better. Because during the season, it's hard to push your limits when you know there is a match every two days.
“Wearing this blue jersey is the next goal in my career, in my life”
What would a first international campaign represent with the Blues (Editor's note: his former coach and neo-selector, Frédéric Faithoux said, at the end of March, that he was “close to a pre-selection”)?
As I have always said, the French team interests me a lot. I want to make a place for myself in this team and be selected for the next European championship and it goes through a good job this summer. The Blues have always been in a corner of my head but during the season, we have so much to think that we keep this goal warm. Wearing this blue jersey is the next goal in my career, in my life. The French Team will take up a little more space every day in my mind. And the goal, of course, is to make a medal (smile)!
Of our correspondent in Atlanta (Georgia).
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