Last night in the Atlanta Hawks’ big 121-116 home win over the New York Knicks number one overall pick Zaccharie Risacher had the best game of his rookie campaign so far. Along with his career high 33 points Risacher had seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocked shots. This year’s top pick is now the youngest player with a 30-point game in Hawks history, and his 33 points were the most points scored by a rookie this season.
Jalen Johnson had 23 points and 15 rebounds. Trae Young had a nice bounce back game scoring 23 points, dishing out 10 assists, and grabbing six rebounds one game after scoring just two points on 1-for-10 shooting against Boston. After last night’s performances from Young, Johnson, and Risacher Beau Morgan believes the Hawks and Trae Young finally have a “legit big three”.
“I think for the first time maybe in his time frame as a Atlanta Hawk there’s a legitimate big three that he’s a part of.” Beau said. Beau also added that he believes the rookie has gotten “better and better and better”.
Atlanta’s “big three” combined for 79 points, 28 rebounds, and 20 assists. Per Hawks Public Relations, Risacher is the fourth youngest NBA player with a game with 30-plus points and zero turnovers, the Hawks are now 25 points better per 100 possessions with Jalen Johnson on the court than they are when he's on the bench, and after last night’s game Trae Young tied Steve Nash for the 11th-most 20-plus points and 10-plus assists games in NBA history.
Obviously consistency is key, especially for the rookie Risacher, but after beating a very good Knicks team in a game where they trailed 110-105 with 2:57 to play, going on 13-1 run to put the game away, and seeing what Young, Johnson, and Risacher can do together, it all has the makings of a legit big three, and last night’s win showed that.
