Dallas Mavericks coach Dusty May had high praise for Zaccharie Risacher after the forward delivered an impressive defensive performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.

“I thought he put together a masterpiece tonight,” May said of Risacher's effort against the Thunder.

Dallas earned a 120-96 victory over Oklahoma City at American Airlines Center, with Risacher making his presence felt on the defensive end. While his shooting remains a work in progress, the 21-year-old has found other ways to contribute since joining the Mavericks.

Risacher entered Wednesday averaging 8.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, two steals, and two blocks through four games. His eight steals and eight blocks gave him 16 combined defensive plays, tied for the second-most in the NBA, according to the Mavericks.

Additionally, May previously praised Risacher's motor and conditioning, saying assistant coach Rob Fodor had nicknamed him a “cyborg” because of how quickly he recovers after playing at a high intensity.

Risacher has made just three of his 17 3-point attempts through four games with Dallas. However, his defensive activity has helped the Mavericks another way to impact games while his shooting develops.

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The Mavericks acquired Risacher from the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team trade involving Oklahoma City in July. Atlanta selected him first overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, and he earned All-Rookie First Team honors in 2024-25.

Dallas also exercised Risacher's fourth-year team option on Wednesday, committing $17.4 million for the 2027-28 season. The decision reflects the team's belief in his potential, even as he continues to develop offensively.

If his shooting improves, he could become an even more important piece of Dallas' rotation.