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PARIS (France) – Certain things are just meant to be. Take Zaccharie Risacher, for example.
He was meant to be one of the faces of French basketball’s future; he was meant to be an exciting, skilled athlete; he was meant to be a youngster that talks like a veteran. And he is embracing his destiny.
“My dad played for the national team for almost 15 years. I heard so much about his games and the way he was, the way he approached the game. That just made me proud for my whole childhood,” the 2005-born French international told FIBA.
“This time it’s my turn to make him and my family proud. It’s special for me too.”
Before Zaccharie, there was Stephane
Before Zaccharie, there was Stephane
Before Zaccharie, there was Stephane
Before Zaccharie, there was Stephane
Before Zaccharie, there was Stephane
The younger Risacher is approaching his first-ever appearance at FIBA EuroBasket with the mentality of someone who will, sooner or later, become a champion. At 20 years old, he already looks the part.
On top of that, new France head coach Frederic Fauthoux, can count on the youngster feeling immensely proud of representing his nation.
“The first time I heard our anthem before a game, it was special. It brings something different before the game, and I really enjoyed it. Ever since it happened, I feel something different wearing the French jersey,” the Atlanta Hawks winger said.
He has experienced it several times now, mostly at youth level.
Alongside his current teammate Alexandre Sarr, who was selected right behind him with the No.2 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Risacher represented France in three consecutive summers from 2021 to 2023.
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Wearing this jersey means everything.
“Being able to represent my country is one of the most beautiful things in my life. To be able to do it with the senior team is a great experience. I can’t wait to be able to represent my country at EuroBasket,” he said.
Especially because he is carrying over the baton from his dad.
“It’s a dream come true for a kid from France like me to be able to compete with the French jersey on my back, with my name on my back; a name that my dad used to carry on his back too for the national team. It’s special.”
Obviously, France’s new and rising generation isn’t only about Zaccharie Risacher.
Alexandre Sarr, Matthew Strazel, Bilal Coulibaly, Sylvain Francisco, Theo Maledon, and other fresh faces wil shoulder a big part of the responsibility for Les Bleus in Katowice and, should France advance, in Riga.
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They will have to step up in the absence of Victor Wembanyama, Rudy Gobert, Evan Fournier, Mathias Lessort, and Vincent Poirier.
“Obviously, we gotta adapt, and I feel like it wouldn’t be the same if they were there. But at the same time, it has been more than three weeks since we’ve been working and building chemistry, habits, and something special,” Risacher said.
“I think we have the right guys to compete at a high level. Also, for the next few years, we’re gonna be one of the toughest teams to face. I feel pretty excited about it, and super proud to be a part of this new generation.
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“We can really do something special this summer. We’re getting ready to go to war.
“Everybody is a great player in their own teams, but we show up during the summer, we challenge ourselves, and we build something special, I think we have the same vision. Everybody tries to be great as a team. There’s no ego, bad vibes. Just one goal, one unity. That’s gonna be our biggest strength.”
While France has talent from top to bottom and depth in all positions, Risacher believes he can bring something special to the table.
“I just wanna play my game, I want to help my team win games, and I feel like that’s what I’m good at,” he said.
“I know I can bring different stuff: rebounding, scoring, being aggressive, shooting threes. I’m gonna do whatever it takes to help my team win games. That’s just the way it’s gonna be. I take pride in doing what I do.
“We’re gonna make sure to be in the right spot to make that happen. We want to win EuroBasket. We’re just not gonna worry about anything else but us, we’re gonna stay locked in together until we can get what we want.”
In Group D, France will face co-hosts Poland, three years after their last encounter at the Semi-Finals of FIBA EuroBasket 2022, as well as Israel, Slovenia, Belgium, and Iceland.
If there’s one particular team Risacher would like to play, it’s the most star-studded one.
“I wanna play Serbia because of my former teammate Bogi [Bogdan Bogdanovic]. I just feel like it will be a great matchup. Being able to play against him will be great. In Atlanta, he was there and taught me a lot of things,” he said.
“It would be special for me to be able to challenge and compete against him.”
Risacher and the new-look France are sure ready to compete against anyone.
FIBA