ATLANTA — When asked what it has been like to play four NBA games in six days, rookie Zaccharie Risacher had a succinct response.
“I’m tired.”
Risacher should have been fatigued after enjoying the biggest night of his young career during the Hawks’ 121-116 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night. He filled up the box score with 33 points, seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocked shots. The 33 points is the most by a rookie this season and easily bested his season high of 17 points.
According to ESPN Research, Risacher, 19, also joined Victor Wembanyama, Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Lamar Odom as the only players to have 30 points and multiple blocks and steals in a game before they turned 20. Risacher is the only one of those players to also have five 3-pointers.
Risacher, who was this year’s overall No. 1 pick, has started the past seven games after De’Andre Hunter ‘s knee injury and has had mixed results to date. He entered the game shooting 21.1% from 3-point range and 32.9% from the floor. Hawks coach Quin Snyder has encouraged him to keep shooting through his ups and downs.