Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr lead 2024 NBA Draft dominated early by international stars

The past six MVP awards in the NBA have gone to international players , and several new potential stars born outside the United States were gobbled up to start the first round of the league’s annual draft Wednesday night at Barclays Center.

French teenagers Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr, as expected, were selected as the top two picks of this year’s NBA draft by the Hawks and Wizards, respectively.

Either one of them going No. 1 — after wunderkind big man Victor Wembanyama went first to the Spurs one year ago — would have made history.

With the selection of Risacher — a 6-foot-9 wing out of JL Bourg in the top tier of the French Pro League — France became the first European country to snag the first pick in consecutive years. It joins Canada (Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins, both selected by Cleveland, in 2014 and 2015) as the only foreign countries to do so.

Another French player, power forward Tidjane Salaun, made it three in the first six selections when he was selected by Charlotte.

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“I’m not shocked. I’ve known Tidjane and Alex for a long time. We grew up playing against each other. So I know them really well,” Risacher said. “That’s amazing for our country. That’s amazing for us, first of all.

“Just to be able to realize our dream together is special. I feel like French players are going to take some inspiration, and that’s going to be better and better for us. I really feel lucky because there’s so many young players that are good.”

Nikola Jokic (three), Giannis Antetokounmpo (two) and Joel Embiid have accounted for the last half-dozen MVP trophies, and it’s not difficult to envision Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Wembanyama — the unanimous 2024 Rookie of the Year — joining them in the coming years.

Risacher also has played for Asvel Basket — owned by countryman and Hall of Famer Tony Parker — in the French Pro League’s top division. He got the nod over Sarr, a 7-foot center who played last season in Australia.

“I kind of had a feeling. I was really happy for him,” Sarr said of Risacher, whom he’s known since they were 13. “And me, I was really happy for me, too.

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“It just shows the amount of talent that we have in France. I’m really excited for Zacc. I think our national team is really going to be good.”

The 2023-24 season marked the third consecutive season that opening-night NBA rosters featured at least 120 international players, and the 10th straight season with at least 100.

At least 10 international players have been selected in the NBA draft every year since 2000, and at least two have gone in the top 10 in each of the past 12 years.

Kentucky shooting guard Reed Sheppard, considered the best outside shooter in this draft, went third to Houston, while one-and-done- UConn guard Stephon Castle was nabbed one pick later by San Antonio, where he will be paired with Wembanyama.

“Just being able to show my playmaking ability with such a great teammate like that, and just learning how to play off the ball at UConn, being able to show that as well, especially with having a great teammate like Victor,” Castle said. “Being able to set ball screens for him and cut in space when teams are trying to load up on him. Just trying to use all aspects of my game to just impact winning.”

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Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr

G League Ignite forward Ron Halland rounded out the top five, going next to the NBA-worst Pistons. After Salaun was grabbed by the Hornets, UConn big man Donovan Clingan became the second player from the defending NCAA champion to come off the board when he was snapped up by the Blazers.

“It’s been a crazy two years, from winning one national title [in 2023] to winning the Big East regular season to the Big East Tournament and then winning another national title,” Clingan said. “A lot of winning, a lot of succeeding the past two years.

“I feel like I’m going to keep that chip on my shoulder and go into Portland with just a lot of confidence, with a willingness to learn and get better every single day.”

Kentucky point guard Rob Dillingham then was drafted by the Spurs and promptly traded to the Timberwolves. Purdue center Zach Edey, the national collegiate player of the year, and Colorado forward Cody Williams (Jazz) rounded out the top 10.

Two more European players — forward Matas Buzelis (Lithuania) and guard Nikola Topic (Serbia) — went 11th and 12th, respectively, to the Bulls and the Thunder. That marked half of the first dozen picks coming from outside the U.S.

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