Zaccharie Risacher isn’t interested in carrying the weight of draft-night expectations around with him.
The Dallas Mavericks forward said the way he deals with pressure is by keeping his head down and putting in the work, a mindset he shared during the team’s media availability at the NBA China Games 2026 in Macao. Asked about how he and teammate Cooper Flagg handle the burden that comes with being selected No. 1 overall, Risacher kept the answer simple.
“I’m not going to talk for him, but for me, I feel like it’s all about putting the work in. That’s how I do it.
Being able to get in the gym and work on my game, that’s how I do it. Keep the stress and the outside noise far, far away from me and my mind.”
He doubled down on that idea by stressing how much he wants to stay locked in on the court.
“I feel like just being on the court and working on my game, that’s been the biggest thing for me. Just to keep my mind clear and be able to focus on the right thing, which is my game. I can’t have much in mind.”
That approach makes sense for a player whose NBA path has already had some twists. Risacher went first overall to the Atlanta Hawks in the 2024 NBA Draft, ahead of Alex Sarr, Stephon Castle, and Reed Sheppard.
His rookie year looked like a strong start. He averaged 12.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while shooting 45.8% from the field, and he finished second in Rookie of the Year voting.
Year two was tougher. His numbers dipped to 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game, and Atlanta eventually sent him to the Mavericks in a trade involving Lu Dort.
Risacher has said the move caught him off guard, especially after the positive feedback he received following his first season.
“I honestly don’t know, because I feel like I had a good first season.I was told I exceeded expectations. It was really surprising to me, this second season; I didn’t really know what was happening.
But at the same time, I was part of a team that was competing for a playoff spot, and I understand that’s part of the game. I was also told the NBA was really competitive, and it’s a part of the game.
Someday you could be somebody who’s valuable, and another day.”
Now he gets another shot in Dallas, where the roster has a different kind of setup. The Mavericks are built around Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and Risacher also has Kyrie Irving in the building - another former first overall selection who knows exactly what it means to enter the league under a spotlight.
That gives Dallas three different No. 1 picks at different stages of their careers, which makes for a fascinating setting around Risacher’s next chapter.
And for the 21-year-old, the opportunity may be just as important as the environment. He has already shown enough physical ability and offensive upside to look like a useful NBA piece. The bigger question is whether he can turn those bursts into steady production night after night.
His comments in Macao made one thing clear: he’s not looking to let draft status or outside judgment steer his game. If he can carve out a consistent role alongside Flagg and Irving, Dallas could end up giving him exactly what he needs - a clean slate.
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