Friday morning during the Media Day of Rising Stars, the three French in the running were keen to appear well to hope to join Victor Wembanyama in the All-Star Game on Sunday. Unfortunately for them, the evening did not go as planned.
Zaccharie Team T of Zaccharie Risacher (4 points, 2 rebounds) and Alex Sarr (3 points) ran after the scoring at the start of the match and they were never able to worry Team C. Team M of Bilal Coulibaly (4 points, 3 rebounds) can have regrets. He had the match in hand and lost on a 3-point shot from Team G League.
Zaccharie Risacher: “an interesting, but super short format”
“We took a little time to set off,” Admitted the Atlanta player to us. “It's an interesting format, but super short and different from a regular season match. We don't really warm up so it's normal that we put a little time in the match, especially since the presentation of the teams is quite long. »»
The number 1 of the Draft was however satisfied with his experience even if the result was not there. He was so caught in his match that he did not see his teammate Trae Young seated in the front row during the match.
“I haven't even seen where he was. But I'll go and say hello to her. There, it's been two or three days since I saw it … I already miss it. he laughs.
Alex Sarr had a hard time realizing that this rising stars was already over for him. “It's incredible to be part of this experience! I watched the Rising Star on TV and now being part of it … it's a good feeling, “ he told us with bananas. “It goes almost too fast a four -like tournament, when you have to reach 40 points. We would have liked to win, but hey … “
Bilal Coulibaly, the third “Brother Thompson”
The Rising Star Challenges follow each other and unfortunately look alike for Bilal Coulibaly. Already beaten by the G League team last season, he could not prevent the defeat of his team when they had the match in hand.
“We lacked address, we gave them too many second chances and their last shot, frankly … we cannot defend better. We knew that we had this opportunity to play on Sunday, we talked about it between us but in the end we did not really show it on the field “ He railed after the semi-final. “0-2 against the G League … It hurts!” Now, you have to come back next year for the All Star Game. »»
Despite this defeat, Coulibaly, however, felt more comfortable than last year. “I was not so stressed, I was more relaxed,” he confirms. “And then it's a very nice experience. We meet new people, we make new friends in the league, we meet veterans that we admired on TV. We learn a lot, it's a great experience. »»
Like his two compatriots, Bilal Coulibaly regretted format and expectation. “It's hard because we arrived very early. We were sitting in the locker room for two hours. It's not terrible. »» However, this free time allowed him to reconnect with the Thompson twins.
In the locker room, some had also nicknamed the three players, “the triplets' as their game and athletic qualities are similar. “We met at the Draft and we immediately appreciated. We have followed since. It was cool to be able to chat with them, “ he explained to us.
The Skills Challenge in consolation batch
“We are sorry … because we have all lost,” Railed Coulibaly, but everything is not lost for our French since we will find Risacher and Sarr at Skills Challenge next night.
“I'm going to stay to see and support Alex and Zaccharie at Skills Challenge,” also said the back of the Wizards. “I did not plan the French flag but if they win, you never know!” »»
“I can't wait,” Projected Zaccharie Risacher after Rising Star. “I watched the Skills Challenge a lot by growing up. It will be a very very nice moment and that I will be able to share with Alex! »»
Interview in San Francisco.
