The Atlanta Hawks defied the odds and drafted French forward Zaccharie Risacher with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, making history as the second consecutive Frenchman to be selected first overall. This year's draft belonged to France, with a record-breaking three Frenchmen landing in the top six.

A Solid Choice

While Risacher doesn't possess the immense size and hype surrounding Victor Wembanyama, the top pick last year who won Rookie of the Year, the Hawks saw him as the best option in a draft lacking elite talent. The 19-year-old impressed last season, winning the French League's Best Young Player award and edging out fellow countryman Alex Sarr for the top spot.

This selection marks a significant moment for French basketball. "Shows the amount of talent we have in France," said Sarr, who went on to be drafted second by the Washington Wizards. "Really excited for Zach. I think our national team is going to be really good."

A Draft Full of Surprises

The Hawks, with a mere 3% chance of winning the lottery, entered the draft without a clear favorite. Mock drafts placed Risacher and Sarr neck-and-neck, while Atlanta also considered UConn center Donovan Clingan.

The usual trend of one-and-done college players topping the draft for over a decade was broken by Risacher, followed by Kentucky freshman Reed Sheppard, drafted third by Houston.

The dominance continued with San Antonio Spurs selecting UConn's Stephon Castle at No. 4, reuniting him with former coach Gregg Popovich after playing under Dan Hurley. The Spurs also acquired Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham with their No. 8 pick, later trading the rights to Minnesota.

French Wave Continues

The Detroit Pistons drafted G League Ignite's Ron Holland at No. 5, followed by Charlotte selecting Tidjane Salaun, another Frenchman who played for Cholet Basket last year. "I think the basketball in France is improved that's why we are here in this draft," Salaun remarked.

Clingan, a two-time champion with UConn, finally landed with Portland at No. 7. This year's draft implemented a new two-night format, with the second round being held on Thursday.

Unexpected Turnouts

The green room witnessed a shift, filled with unfamiliar faces from various leagues and countries. Notably absent was Zach Edey, the two-time AP Player of the Year from Purdue, who was surprisingly drafted by Memphis at No. 9. Another surprise was Tennessee's All-American, Dalton Knecht, who fell from a projected lottery pick to the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 17.

Off-Court Buzz Steals the Spotlight

While the draft unfolded, fans of the New York Knicks had other reasons to celebrate. The team acquired Mikal Bridges from Brooklyn on Tuesday and secured OG Anunoby with a five-year contract exceeding $210 million on Wednesday.

LeBron James' son, Bronny James, remained undrafted in the first round, although his USC teammate Isaiah Collier was selected by Utah with the No. 29 pick. The night concluded with the NBA champion Boston Celtics picking Baylor Scheierman from Creighton.