Atlanta Hawks rookie Zaccharie Risacher offered candid insight into his experience with intense coaching styles overseas.
Speaking with Thanasis Antetokounmpo on The Thanalysis Show, the 20-year-old reflected on what it’s like playing under European coaches known for aggressive sideline behavior.
“In Europe, you see crazy highlights of coaches being mad at players. But as a player, you also experience it — sometimes they yell at you and make you feel miserable,” Risacher said, via HoopsHype.
He acknowledged the cultural differences in coaching, noting that vocal criticism is common in international basketball environments.
“That’s just the culture. I’m comfortable with everything, you know? I don’t mind being yelled at if I messed up,” he added.
Risacher emphasized that he takes accountability when mistakes happen, but drew a line when it comes to unjustified yelling.
“The only thing I don’t like is when a coach yells just to yell. Some of them do that, especially with young players,” the former number one overall pick said.
The French forward explained that in some cases, coaches single out young players to send a message to the rest of the team.
“They want to set an example for the rest of the team by yelling at you, even if it’s not warranted. That, I don’t like,” Risacher said.
He reiterated his openness to criticism as long as it stems from a real mistake.
“But if I mess up, I own it. I’ll take the yelling. That’s fair. I messed up — you let me know,” he concluded.
The comments come in Risacher’s first NBA season, where he’s averaging 12.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 24.7 minutes per game.
Despite joining a crowded Hawks rotation, the rookie has earned a consistent role under head coach Quin Snyder.
His maturity and self-awareness have drawn praise from Atlanta’s coaching staff, especially as the franchise pushes for postseason positioning.
The Hawks currently sit in eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 38-40 record.
Their offensive production ranks in the top half of the league, but defensive consistency remains a concern as the regular season winds down.
Drafted first overall in June 2024, Risacher became the second consecutive French player to be selected with the top pick, following Victor Wembanyama.
He also became the fifth international player in league history to go first overall, joining Yao Ming, Andrew Bogut, Andrea Bargnani, and Wembanyama.
That same draft class included fellow Frenchmen Alex Sarr and Tidjane Salaun, making France the first non-U.S. nation to have three top-10 picks in one NBA Draft.
