It wasn’t expected that the 2024 NBA Draft would provide one of the better rookie classes in recent memory. Draft experts and pundits alike mostly agreed in unison that the Atlanta Hawks had the unfortunate luck of winning the draft lottery in 2024. It seemed like a year where there would be no difference makers. They have proven to be somewhat correct. There certainly have been good players, but for now, none look like they could become a perennial All-Star. The 2024-25 Rookie of the Year race appeared to be over, but Zaccharie Risacher is looking to make a last-ditch effort to get into the race.
Can Zaccharie Risacher Make Last-Ditch Rookie of the Year Effort?
Risacher Has Career-Best Effort On Thursday
The Atlanta Hawks are bound for the Play-In Tournament once again. It’s remarkably the fourth straight season they have done so. When Jalen Johnson suffered a season-ending injury in late January, the Hawks postseason hopes dwindled. Risacher, a full-time starter since the fourth game of the season, has helped keep them afloat.
On Thursday, Atlanta defeated the depleted Brooklyn Nets 133-109 to improve their record to 38-42. In the victory, the recently turned 20-year-old Risacher had a career-best game from his rookie year. Playing 35 minutes, he finished with a career-high of 38 points. He also added four rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block. The 6-foot-8 forward shot 15-20 from the field, 6-11 from beyond the arc, and 2-5 from the free-throw line. According to StatMuse, those 38 points are the most by an Eastern Conference rookie since Franz Wagner also dropped 38 on December 28, 2021.
Zaccharie Risacher vs BKN:
38 PTS
2 STL
6 3P
+28The most points by an Eastern Conference rookie since Franz Wagner. pic.twitter.com/qmuoBngA2t
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 11, 2025
The first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Risacher has had his inconsistencies, just as every other rookie has. There have been numerous instances though where he has shown off his potential of becoming a long-time cornerstone player for the Hawks. Thursday’s performance beat his previous career-best of 36 points set not too long ago on March 30 against the Milwaukee Bucks. It was also the fourth time that Risacher has dropped at least 30 in a game.
In 73 outings this season, Risacher has posted averages of 12.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. He has shooting percentage splits of 45.8/35.5/70.7.
Rookie of the Year Still Unlikely
Stephon Castle, the fourth overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs, has been seen as the heavy favorite for 2024-25 Rookie of the Year. His averages have increased to 17.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and one steal in his 28 games since the All-Star break. That’s compared to his seasonal averages of 14.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 0.9 steals in 79 games.
The 6-foot-6 guard has been somewhat of an inefficient scorer all season though, and the improved numbers since the break hasn’t necessarily come with better efficiency (slightly higher field goal percentage, slightly lower three-point percentage). On the season, Castle’s shooting marks consist of 42.8% from the field and 28.3% from three-point range.
So while Risacher’s overall numbers aren’t quite as productive, his efficiency has been much closer to league average than Castle. On Thursday, Jeremy Woo of ESPN posted his NBA rookie rankings. He had Risacher atop the list with Castle second.
Still, even after his career-best scoring performance, it seems to be highly unlikely that Risacher can overtake Castle for Rookie of the Year. Castle is still the heavy favorite, and there are just two games remaining. Risacher and the Hawks will at least extend their year in the Play-In Tournament while Castle and the Spurs have been eliminated.
Photo credit: © Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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