DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki said Monday that Zaccharie Risacher still has room to grow into what the Dallas Mavericks traded for, in a phone interview with Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News.
Nowitzki said president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri has made a lot of changes in Dallas and brought his own people in. The Risacher trade was one of them.
“We have a bunch of Euros. Drafted some. Traded for Zaccharie Risacher, who is very skilled,” Nowitzki said. “Coming out of Europe, he was the first pick over a year ago. The potential is there.”
“I think there’s some interesting things that have happened,” Nowitzki continued. “Now, we’ll see how it all comes together.”
Risacher went first overall to the Atlanta Hawks in the 2024 NBA Draft, two years ago rather than one.
Dallas acquired him on July 19 in a three-team deal with Atlanta and Oklahoma City. Ryan Nembhard went to the Hawks and three second-round picks went to the Thunder. Risacher’s $13.8 million salary was absorbed into the $20.8 million trade exception Dallas created in the February 2025 Anthony Davis trade.
Zaccharie Risacher’s Two Seasons In Atlanta
Risacher made the All-Rookie First Team in 2024-25, the 10th Hawks player to earn the honor. Over 75 games with 73 starts he averaged 12.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 24.6 minutes, shooting 45.8% from the field, 35.5% from three, and 71.1% from the line.
He was the only rookie that season to average at least 10.0 points on 45/35/70 splits. Among rookies he ranked second in total points with 942, second in made field goals with 357, fourth in made threes with 122, and fifth in made free throws with 106.
Risacher had four 30-point games, the most by any rookie in 2024-25, and scored a career-high 38 against the Brooklyn Nets on April 10. He won Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in February and March, the only rookie that year to take it in consecutive months, and played in both the Rising Stars game and the Skills Challenge at 2025 All-Star weekend in San Francisco.
Last season went the other direction. Risacher played 67 games with 46 starts and averaged 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 22.4 minutes. He sprained an ankle in the opener and missed two games.
Atlanta added Kristaps Porziņģis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Luke Kennard last summer, and Jalen Johnson did not play from Jan. 25 through the end of the season.
Zaccharie Risacher’s Contract Decision
Risacher signed a rookie deal with Atlanta in July 2024 that runs four years and $57 million, with $25.8 million guaranteed. The Hawks exercised his third-year option on Oct. 30, 2025, locking in $13,826,040 for this season.
The next decision falls to Dallas. Risacher’s fourth-year team option is worth roughly $17.4 million for 2027-28, and it has to be exercised by Oct. 31. He would become a restricted free agent in 2028.
Where Zaccharie Risacher Fits
Dallas will start two players who dominate the ball in Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg.
“Can you impact the game with your IQ? Can you cut at the right time? Can you get open? Can you spot up? Can you shoot?” Nowitzki explained.
Risacher joins a crowded wing group that includes Naji Marshall, who signed a three-year, $52.2 million extension in August, and Santi Aldama, acquired from Memphis in July. Dallas bought out Klay Thompson on Aug. 21, and he signed a two-year deal with the Miami Heat.
The Mavericks finished 26-56. They open training camp before Sept. 29 and play the Houston Rockets on Oct. 9 and Oct. 11 at The Venetian Arena in Macau, China, in the NBA Global Games.
