Last year’s number one overall draft pick Zaccharie Risacher was overlooked on the initial list for the 2026 Rising Stars event at the All-Star Weekend that will take place in under a week’s time. I outlined his injury-riddled disappointing second season earlier.
But with Ajay Mitchell of the Oklahoma City Thunder ruled out for the challenge due to injury, the NBA needed to backfill one of the sophomore spots. Today, we got some fortunate news for Risacher:
Risacher is averaging 10.7 points and 3.5 rebounds per game — both figures fewer than his rookie season when he finished second in Rookie of the Year voting.