‘Fastest Player On The Court’: Kyrie Irving On Zaccharie Risacher After Dallas Mavericks Beat Houston Rockets

DALLAS — Zaccharie Risacher had 12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and a block off the bench Friday night as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Houston Rockets 116-111 at American Airlines Center. The 21-year-old forward now has 22 combined steals and blocks through six games.

Only Victor Wembanyama, with 26, has more in the NBA this season. Risacher shot 4-of-9 from the field and 3-of-6 from three-point range in 27 minutes, 36 seconds.

The Atlanta Hawks took Risacher first overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, and he spent two seasons there before Dallas acquired him in a three-team trade in July. The Mavericks exercised his fourth-year option on Wednesday.

Kyrie Irving On Zaccharie Risacher’s Bench Role

Risacher started for Dallas during the preseason. He has come off the bench in five of the Mavericks’ six regular-season games.

“I think the practices that we’ve had, preseason that we had, I can’t necessarily use the word surprised like everyone else. In terms of his effort and what he’s been able to do, he’s right on track in terms of being a young player in this league and establishing himself and really proving himself,” Kyrie Irving said. “It’s tough being a number one pick and having the franchise pressure on you and then now being in a new environment and having to develop or accept a new role. And I think he’s done it fabulously.”

“And when you’re around other talented players and high-level players, you’re gonna have to adjust and you’re gonna have to adapt. He started in the starting lineup in preseason, and he’s adjusted to coming off the bench, first guy off the bench at times, which helps us,” Irving continued. “So I think the selfless approach that he’s taken has been very mature of him. But we’re gonna need him to do other things continuously down the stretch, and depending on health, God willing we all stay healthy, but if we don’t, then there’s gonna be times where he’s gonna be in the starting lineup and he’s gonna be asked to do more. I think he’ll be able to step up to the plate.”

“But right now in his role, he’s superstar in it, just being able to get the stocks, be able to push in transition. He’s the fastest player on the court in every single game,” Irving added. “It’s beautiful to watch somebody like that, just going up and down the court and beating bigs, beating wings. And it helps us a lot when we’re trying to make a push, and those little plays that don’t show up on the stat sheet is a way he’s become great at.”

Irving, the first overall pick in 2011, is in his 15th NBA season. Risacher is the second former No. 1 pick on the Dallas roster, joining Cooper Flagg, who went first in 2025.

Risacher’s Steals And Blocks Against Houston

Two of Risacher’s 3 steals turned straight into Dallas points. In the second quarter, he picked off a Marcus Smart pass and fed Irving for a transition layup, and in the third, he stole a pass from Oscar Tshiebwe and hit a three on the other end to cut Houston’s lead to 71-68.

His other steal came against Kevin Durant in the second quarter. Risacher also blocked a floater by Jabari Smith Jr. late in the first quarter and closed that period with a fast-break dunk off an Irving pass.

He entered Friday averaging 9.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.8 blocks in 29.8 minutes. His three with 21.9 seconds left in the third quarter cut Houston’s lead to 84-76 going into the fourth.

“P.J., same thing, just physical defender. He’ll knock down his open shots, but I think just the work he did rebounding the ball down the stretch for us was huge,” Flagg said. “… Zacch has been really good all year of just getting in the lanes, getting deflections, steals, blocks, being all over the place. So those guys, they’re vital to our success for sure.”

Risacher scored 7 of his 12 points in the second half, on 2-of-4 shooting. Mavericks coach Dusty May opened his postgame press conference by running through several players beyond Irving and Flagg.

“But so many other possessions jump out. Gafford’s blocks at the rim were huge. P.J.’s rebounds in traffic late. I think he had three in the last three minutes, and we needed all of them. Obviously, Zacch in the second half,” May said.

Dallas is 4-2 after its third straight win. The Mavericks host the Sacramento Kings on Monday, with tip-off set for 7 p.m. CT.