During NBA Today on Thursday, former player Udonis Haslem humorously struggled to pronounce the name of Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher, bringing attention to the 2024 top draft pick’s ongoing quest for wider recognition. Haslem’s mispronunciation of the young player’s name added an awkward yet amusing moment to the discussion about the Hawks’ roster for the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season.
Risacher’s Rookie Season and Role with the Hawks
Zaccharie Risacher demonstrated potential during his rookie season, playing in 75 games and scoring over 30 points on three separate occasions. Despite these flashes of strong performance, his overall role remained limited, averaging 12.6 points across roughly 24.6 minutes per game last year. While not yet a household name, Risacher is viewed as an emerging asset for Atlanta’s future.
Haslem’s On-Air Struggle with Pronunciation
In previewing key players for the Hawks this season, Haslem mentioned Risacher as a part of the team’s young core alongside Jalen Johnson. However, Haslem mistakenly referred to Risacher as “Rosh Hashanah,” a term widely known as the Jewish New Year. His initial guess was off mark, leading to some genuine confusion on live television.
“Now, you have everything you need,”
said Haslem.
“You go out and you get (Luke) Kennard, who is 44 percent from three. You make the trade for (Kristaps) Porzingis. You’ve got your young core in Jalen Johnson, Rosh Hashanah, however you say his name. Excuse me, I’m sorry, Risacher. Zaccharie Risacher.”
—Udonis Haslem, NBA Today
Even Haslem’s follow-up effort did not capture the correct pronunciation, which sounds like “Ree-Zah-Shay,” whereas he articulated something closer to “Ree-Shah-Shee.”
Haslem Offers a Humble Apology
Recognizing his mistake, Haslem apologized on air for the blunder and confessed the difficulty he faced with the name. His apology was candid and lighthearted, acknowledging the challenge of mastering less familiar names in the league.
“Listen, I messed up his name. I am sorry,”
Haslem admitted.
“Listen, don’t get mad at me, Perk. I took a page out of your book.”
—Udonis Haslem, NBA Today
A Look Ahead for Risacher and the Hawks
As Risacher gains more experience, a breakout season could help solidify his position and perhaps earn him a nickname that’s easier for commentators and fans to remember and pronounce. His development will be closely watched by analysts, as the Hawks rely on him as part of their young talent pool alongside players like Jalen Johnson, Kristaps Porzingis, and Luke Kennard. How Risacher evolves will be significant for Atlanta’s plans moving forward in the competitive NBA landscape.