Hawks Exercise 2026–27 Option on 2024 No.1 Pick Zaccharie Risacher

The Atlanta Hawks have officially exercised the third-year rookie-scale team option on Zaccharie Risacher for the 2026–27 NBA season, guaranteeing the 2024 No. 1 overall pick a $13.8 million salary. Risacher, a 20-year-old French forward, showed significant improvement during his rookie season, increasing his scoring and efficiency notably in the latter half of the year, culminating in an All-Rookie First Team selection. Despite a slow start and an early ankle sprain in his second season that caused him to miss two games, Risacher continues to be a central figure in Atlanta's long-term plans. His rookie averages included 12.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, with shooting improvements from 40% to over 51% in the latter part of the season. Risacher also finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, underscoring his impact as a top draft pick. The Hawks' decision to pick up the option reflects confidence in Risacher's development and future contributions to the team.