When a former No. 1 overall pick gets sent to the G League, it usually sets off alarms. But in Zaccharie Risacher’s case, this isn’t a red flag - it’s more like a green light. The Hawks are signaling that their 20-year-old forward is nearly ready to return to NBA action.
Risacher, along with fellow young prospect Asa Newell, was assigned to the College Park Skyhawks on Sunday. The move wasn’t about minutes or performance - it was about reps.
The Skyhawks didn’t have a game until Tuesday, but the Hawks were in action Monday against the Pacers. By sending Risacher and Newell down for practice, Atlanta gave them a chance to get in some live work before potentially rejoining the main roster.
Sure enough, both players were recalled Monday morning, just in time to be back on the bench for the Hawks’ afternoon win over Indiana.
This is all part of a carefully managed return for Risacher, who’s been sidelined since January 7 with a left knee bone contusion. The team issued an update back on January 19, saying he was progressing and would be re-evaluated in about a week. That timeline now has him right on the edge of being game-ready.
In Risacher’s absence, the Hawks have tried a few different looks at the small forward spot. Vit Krejci and Corey Kispert have both seen time in the starting lineup, but neither has locked the position down.
Krejci brings some versatility, and Kispert is a known shooter, but neither offers the kind of defensive upside Risacher does. Even if his offensive game hasn’t fully popped yet, his ability to guard multiple positions and make life difficult for opposing wings is something Atlanta sorely needs.
And that’s what makes his looming return so intriguing. The numbers - 11.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists per game on 58% true shooting - don’t leap off the page.
In fact, they’re nearly identical to his rookie season, when he finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. But this year’s Rising Stars roster is stacked with players who’ve taken a big leap in Year 2, and Risacher’s steady-but-not-spectacular production wasn’t quite enough to earn him a spot.
That said, there’s still a chance he gets the call as an injury replacement. And even if he doesn’t, the bigger picture matters more.
The Hawks didn’t draft him for All-Star Weekend appearances - they drafted him to be a two-way cornerstone. If his knee’s healthy and he can get back to locking down wings while growing into his offensive role, the rest will take care of itself.
Bottom line: Atlanta’s about to get one of its most important young pieces back. And with the team still searching for consistency, Risacher’s return couldn’t come at a better time.