‘Kind Of Reinventing Himself’: Dusty May Says Zaccharie Risacher Never Gets Tired As Dallas Mavericks Pick Up His Option
DALLAS — Mavericks coach Dusty May said before Wednesday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder that Zaccharie Risacher never gets tired, on the same day the Dallas Mavericks exercised his $17,434,637 fourth-year option for 2027-28.
Risacher, 21, is averaging 8.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.0 steals, and 2.0 blocks through four games with Dallas. His 16 combined steals and blocks are tied for the second-most in the NBA, according to the team.
Mavericks assistant and shooting coach Rob Fodor works with Risacher often, including at shootarounds and on the practice court. May said Fodor has a nickname for him.
“Zacch, on the other hand, it’s been his motor and his conditioning. The guy never gets tired. One of the assistant coaches, Coach Fodor, said he’s a cyborg. He comes out of a game after playing five minutes that hard, he’s not breathing. He’s just sitting there like you can’t even tell that he’s been playing,” May said. “And so as his intensity and motor has improved, his defensive rebounding, the extra possessions he gives us just by getting a fingertip on the ball. Obviously the weak-side blocks, there’s a residual effect of those. So he’s kind of reinventing himself. Even though he’s not shooting nearly as well as he always has, he’s found a lot of value in other parts of the game.”
Zaccharie Risacher’s Defense Next To Cooper Flagg
May made the comments while discussing Risacher and Cooper Flagg as a defensive pairing. In Monday’s 113-109 win at the Miami Heat, Risacher had 8 rebounds and 3 blocks while shooting 2-of-13, and Dallas outscored Miami by 9 points with him on the floor.
After that game, Flagg said Risacher’s defense makes the Mavericks significantly better, regardless of his shooting.
“That’s what I’m telling Zacch. I think obviously nobody’s happy missing shots and stuff like that. But he makes us 15, 20 points better when he’s being active and getting steals and playing his defense,” Flagg said Monday. “So I have no doubt that his shots are gonna start to fall and there’s nothing to worry about there. So with him contributing like he has been, it makes it so much better.”
Risacher’s Option And His Start In Dallas
Risacher set the franchise record for steals in a Mavericks debut with 5 against the Houston Rockets on Oct. 21. He has made 3 of his 17 3-point attempts through four games with Dallas, after shooting 35.5% from 3-point range over his career.
The Atlanta Hawks took Risacher No. 1 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, and he made the All-Rookie First Team in 2024-25. Dallas acquired him July 19 in a three-team trade with Atlanta and Oklahoma City.
Dallas (2-2) hosts the 4-0 Thunder at 8:30 p.m. CT at American Airlines Center.
