Four games into the season, Zaccharie Risacher — the wiry French wing the Atlanta Hawks drafted as the No. 1 pick in 2024 — has had several sequences where it looks like he’s playing at 1.5 speed. The Mavericks acquired him in a July trade and have until Saturday to exercise his $17.4 million team option for the 2027-28 season, which seems like a safe bet.

Risacher, who’s averaging 8.0 points per game while shooting 30.8 percent from the field, has struggled to score but has still made a positive impact in Dallas’ 2-2 start. Risacher’s 16 combined steals and blocks tie teammate Cooper Flagg for the most in the NBA. The Mavericks outscore opponents by 6.9 points per 100 possessions with Risacher on the floor and get outscored by 17.5 points per 100 possessions when he sits.

“Zac is finding himself now,” coach Dusty May said. “He’s still so young. We really, really value and appreciate those plays. However many missed shots he had, he had twice as many loose balls and blocks and steals and rebounds.

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Credits:

https://x.com/statmuse/status/2115161861314470030/photo/1?s=46

https://x.com/statmuse/status/2115161861314470030/photo/1?s=46

https://x.com/statmuse/status/2115161861314470030/photo/1?s=46

While Dybantsa, Boozer, Peterson, Wilson, Wagler, Burries, Flemmings, Acuff, were all playing college ball, Coop was :

• Second youngest ROTY ever (by 2 days, to LeBron)

• Youngest ever to score 35

• Youngest ever to score 50, only one as a teen

• First rookie since Allen Iverson to drop 40 four times

• First rookie since MJ to lead his team in points, assists, rebounds and steals

• 

All while being high school player of the year and college player of the year. And he's the 11th youngest player in the league RIGHT NOW, only 7 months older than Cam Boozer, the youngest one.

Let's see how this year's rookies do compared to rookie Flagg who was a year younger. Let's see how they do compared to Flagg this year, while they are the same age.

PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE

MJ Washington - The thunder killer with 20pts 10reb 3 stocks

Hooper Flagg : 30pts 7 rebounds 7 asst 4 stocks

Zacc 1st team all defense : 15pts 10 reb 6 stocks

Gaff : 10pts 10reb 2 blk

Will be extremely interesting to see how we defend the okc guards.

Our biggest strength is at wings , their biggest weakness is matchups with best wings . Just need to make sure not to fall for SGA gimmicks.

Masai kept our raps relevant just by having defensive dogs for over a decade, and im happy the tradition is carrying over to the Mavs.

Source: https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/tiny/GuRNM

The Mavericks say Santi Aldama has been assigned to the Texas Legends to practice with the team as part of his return-to-play protocol.

Acquired in July as part of a six-team trade, Santi Aldama has been sidelined since knee surgery in March and will get in some practice work with the Mavericks’ @nbagleague affiliate before making his Dallas debut.

That’s it that’s the post. I love him so much HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

His defence has been very good, I'm not worried about his shot at all he's always had a solid shot. He just rushes his shot sometimes. With more game time and coaching he’ll eventually get there.

Walter Clayton JR provided a poise that we haven't had on this roster for a while. The way he controlled the offence and drove to the rim we really missed. I was super impressed by him. He looks calm and composed. Last year was his rookie year and he had to adjust to two different teams in one year. Small guards also take time to adjust to the nba.

These pickups by the Mavs have been amazing, very high quality pickups on the low. Walter was a 18th pick just last year and Zacch 1st overall just two years ago. They have a lot of talent.

Curious to know what Dusty May and his system have done for this former number 1 pick.

He's a stocks monster and playing 30mpg every game...you think he starts over Christie or PJ soon?

He's a career 45%/35% guy and hes at 38%/18% so that should come back around, especially with the gravity of Coop, Kyrie etc.

Rest of Season he could be at like:

12.5/6.8/1.8/1.6/1.4 as a starter.

Stocks is steals+blocks btw

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Shout out to Dusty and the guys.

As much as I love our roster, we have some pretty big flaws. But he (and the team) are covering them up by playing the guys to their strengths and putting in old fashioned hard work.

Watch how valuable this coaching skill will be when we are actually contenders. Cautiously optimistic, but I have high hopes for the future, MFFL.

His defense is absolutely elite and paired with Flagg's defense... it makes our team scary.

Idk who he needs to work with to fix his shot. I'd honestly be fine with him taking those running floaters lol.

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Dirk could really tell when his one-legged signature fadeaway lost its lift and decided to call it quits shortly afterward.