By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Atlanta Hawks opened the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season schedule with a win, 120-116, over the Brooklyn Nets in State Farm Arena on Wednesday.
Coming off the bench with 3:43 remaining in the first quarter, French forward Zaccharie Risacher completed the path from the top pick of the 2024 NBA draft to the floor.
“It was amazing,” he said, “I am glad we won and on to the next one.”
Logging 19 minutes for the team coached by Quin Snyder, he was limited to 2/8 field goals for seven points.
“I am only 19, so this is a big adjustment for me,” he mentioned, “I will be better and better and better.”
Starting for the Hawks, Swiss Clint Capela chipped in six points and seven rebounds. Coming off the bench, Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic and Czech Vit Krejci added eight and three points, respectively. Trae Young with 30 points and Onyeka Okongwu with a career-high 28 points stood out.
“Very special”
On the losing end, German Dennis Schroder paired 13 points with seven assists in the debut of new head coach Jordi Fernandez.
“Stepping back, looking at this game, very special. Very special for my wife, for my kids, for my parents, for everybody that has been with me during the journey. Extremely honored and proud to be where I am, and very proud of the guys because they played really hard,” Fernandez mentioned after becoming the first Spaniard to coach an NBA game.
Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic started the new season on the injury list.