2024-06-21T14:17:20.060ZThe Atlanta Hawks selected French teenager Zaccharie Risacher with the first pick in the NBA Draft at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on Wednesday. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)NEW YORK — Six years after Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr first competed against each other in youth tournaments, the two French teenagers were selected first and second, respectively, in the NBA draft, held Wednesday at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.The Atlanta Hawks, who earned the No. 1 pick after having just a 3 percent chance to win the lottery, selected Risacher, a 19-year-old forward who spent last season playing for JL Bourg in France’s top professional league. Minutes later, the Washington Wizards selected Sarr, a 19-year-old center who last played for Perth in Australia’s National Basketball League.The selections, which began arguably the most wide open draft of the past decade, followed the San Antonio Spurs’ selection of French center Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft. Wembanyama and Risacher are the first players from the same country, outside of North America, to be selected first in back-to-back drafts. Sarr stood up to offer Risacher a congratulatory handshake and hug once NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced the first pick.The Hawks selected first overall for the first time since 1975. Risacher, a 6-foot-9 scoring-minded forward who was honored as the French league’s top young prospect last season, averaged 10.1 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 35.2 percent on three-pointers for JL Bourg, which posted a 25-9 record.The Wizards made Sarr their highest pick since selecting John Wall with the No. 1 pick in 2010. Sarr, a versatile defender who stands 7-foot, averaged 9.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in for Perth, which had the NBL’s second-best record.The Houston Rockets selected Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard at No. 3, the San Antonio Spurs took Connecticut guard Stephon Castle at No. 4, and the Detroit Pistons rounded out the top five by adding G League Ignite forward Ron Holland.Without a generational headliner like Wembanyama to inspire buzz, this year’s draft was a lower-key affair. A few dozen reporters interviewed projected lottery picks at a midtown Manhattan hotel at media day on Tuesday, and there were plenty of empty seats inside the arena for Wednesday’s first round.On the eve of Wednesday’s draft, the Brooklyn Nets’ agreement to trade forward Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks overshadowed the annual festivities. And little over one hour before the draft began, the Wizards agreed to trade forward Deni Avdija to the Portland Trail Blazers for guard Malcolm Brogdon and the No. 14 pick.For the first time, the NBA chose to split its two-round draft across two days, with the made-for-television second round unfolding Thursday afternoon at an ESPN facility near the Brooklyn Bridge. To avoid a conflict with the first debate between President Biden and former president Donald Trump, the draft broadcast was moved up to 4 p.m.Silver opened Wednesday’s proceedings by saluting Hall of Famers Jerry West and Bill Walton, who both died over the past month, and acknowledging the Boston Celtics for winning their first championship since 2008. The New York crowd booed loudly whenever the Celtics were mentioned.