NBA Notes: Hawks, Zaccharie Risacher, Hornets, Wizards

Hawks

No. 1 overall draft pick and Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher, has been adjusting not only to the NBA but also to a whole new culture, as written by Lauren Williams of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The French native has spent his first extended time away from home this season, and the transition hasn’t always been easy.

“I feel like I’m learning every day, and my English has started to get better,” Risacher said. “Just being able to speak with everybody around here, it can be at the facility, within the organization, but also in real life with like people outside in my building, when I go to restaurants or whatever, I speak English all the time. So it really helped me to get better.”

That’s a level of growth that goes beyond just basketball. As Risacher continues to find his footing on and off the court, it’s clear he’s more than just a rookie trying to figure out NBA schemes — he’s a young player navigating a whole new world.

The Hawks (19-19), meanwhile, are aiming for consistency as an entire team. When good, they’ve proven to be really good.

Hornets

Mark Williams is back, and he’s making his presence known. After a nearly year-long absence due to injuries, the Hornets‘ starting center reasserted himself in Sunday’s loss to Phoenix with a monster 24-point, 16-rebound, 4-assist, 1-block performance.

The majority of his damage came in the first half, where he exploded for 22 points and 13 rebounds. In fact, Williams joined an exclusive club with Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama as the only players this season to hit those marks before halftime.

Williams credited his aggressive mindset and the team’s fast-paced approach.

“I just wanted to come out, be aggressive obviously,” he said, via Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer. “The first game (against Phoenix), we won by playing with pace. So, I just wanted to go out there, and start with those things and it showed for itself.”

With Williams back in the mix, the Hornets have a decision to make at center.

Backup big man Moussa Diabate impressed while Williams and Nick Richards were sidelined, and it’s possible the Hornets could make a move before the February 6 trade deadline.

• As we relayed, there’s buzz around Richards, with the Suns reportedly interested in acquiring the 15-point, 12-rebound, 3-block man, who showed out with a solid performance against Phoenix last week. Could a trade be on the horizon?
• Williams is keeping the faith despite all the injury struggles. We have that full story here.

Wizards

The Wizards are in turmoil after a brutal 41-point loss to Oklahoma City. Head coach Brian Keefe spoke for less than a minute after the game, and it was clear he was frustrated with his team’s lack of fight.

“We deserve to be criticized by [Keefe],” wing Corey Kispert said. “This one is definitely on us as players. Credit to him. He takes a lot of criticism and deflects a lot of praise. And oftentimes that’s not fair because we play and he doesn’t, and it’s our job to be way, way better than we were tonight.”

• The Wizards’ injury woes continue as well. Malcolm Brogdon’s right foot injury has worsened, and the veteran guard could be looking at an extended absence. The team changed his injury designation from “right foot pain” to a “plantar fascia contusion” in the past week, and this injury adds to his already bumpy season.
• Brogdon has missed significant time already — 18 games overall — between thumb surgery, hamstring issues, and now this new setback.