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After being recognized as the Eastern Conference’s Rookie of the Month for February, Atlanta Hawks’ promising newcomer Zaccharie Risacher has also received the accolade for March.
In March, Risacher posted averages of 16.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. The French player set a record by becoming the youngest player in NBA history to achieve the most games with 30 or more points and over five three-pointers.
According to the Hawks:
The NBA has announced that Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher has been awarded the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for March. He also garnered the same title in February, making him the only rookie this season to claim this honor in consecutive months, irrespective of conference.
Over 14 games in March, the first overall pick recorded an impressive average of 16.3 points with shooting percentages of 53.3% from the field, 39.3% from beyond the arc, and 73.9% from the free-throw line, in addition to gathering 3.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 27.0 minutes per contest. Risacher is the sole rookie this season to maintain an average of at least 16.0 points while shooting at least 50% from the field during a single month, making him the first Hawks rookie to accomplish this since Stacey Augmon in April 1992 (minimum 10 games played). Moreover, he was the only player in the NBA for March to average 16.0 points with shooting splits of at least .530/.390/.730 (minimum 10 games played).
His March scoring average of 16.3 points represents the highest monthly average he has achieved this season, following a steady increase each month (December: 9.4 points per game, January: 11.9 point per game, February: 12.8 points per game, March: 16.3 points per game).
At just 19 years of age, Risacher boasted the second-best effective field goal percentage (.632%) among all rookies who participated in a minimum of 10 games during March (minimum 25 minutes per game), while holding the top offensive rating for Eastern Conference rookies under the same criteria.
In the Hawks’ latest victory, a 145-124 triumph over Milwaukee on March 30, Risacher achieved a career-high of 36 points, shooting 12 of 21 from the field, alongside contributing six rebounds and one steal in 35 minutes of play. This remarkable scoring feat represented the highest tally by any Eastern Conference rookie this season and the second highest for all rookies. According to Stathead, he has become only the tenth teenager in NBA history to score 36 or more points in a single game. Furthermore, this 36-point outing marked his third 30+ point game of the season, the highest number for any rookie this year.
Starting the month strong, the reigning two-time Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month opened with a career-high four steals, adding 27 points on 11 of 13 shooting from the field and a 5 of 7 performance from three-point range in a victory against Memphis on March 3. He became the first rookie since 2022’s Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes to wrap up a game with at least 27 points on .800 shooting or better, alongside four steals.
Thanks to Risacher’s exceptional performance, the Hawks finished March with a 9-5 record, marking their best monthly win total since March 2022 (11 victories), and achieving their second month of the season with a winning percentage above .600 (the previous was December). As noted by Elias Sports, this signifies the first instance since the 2015-16 season that the Hawks have had multiple months in one season with a winning percentage of at least .600.
In a total of 67 games this season (65 starts), Risacher is averaging 12.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists across 24.8 minutes. He currently sits in the top five among all rookies for total points, field goals made, three-pointers, free throws, and steals.
