Comparing Darius Acuff Jr.’s Summer League to NBA star guards

Darius Acuff Jr. is viewed as the Sacramento Kings’ franchise guard, meaning expectations were always going to be high for the recent seventh-overall pick.

Acuff, who was selected in June’s 2026 NBA Draft out of Arkansas, just put the finishing touches on his Summer League last week, with his numbers appearing solid at first glance, but lackluster shooting numbers weighing down his performance in Las Vegas.

Is it time to panic? Short answer: no.

If you want a longer answer, here’s why Summer League struggles usually aren’t an indication that a player is doomed once the NBA regular season begins.

Sacramento’s rookies in last night’s @NBASummerLeague action:

🏀 DARIUS ACUFF JR.: 26 PTS (16 in 3Q), 5 AST
🏀 EMANUEL SHARP: 23 PTS, 4 STL, 6 3PM
pic.twitter.com/oiraGDdG77

— NBA (@NBA) July 15, 2026

More on Darius Acuff Jr.’s Summer League Performance

Expectations were high for Acuff, as was to be expected when a franchise in Sacramento’s place drafts a high-scoring guard who has earned some exciting NBA comparisons.

After showing flashes during two appearances at the California Classic, the seventh overall pick struggled to settle into his offense in Las Vegas.

Over three games, Acuff averaged 19.0 points, 5.3 assists, 1.0 steals, and 4.7 turnovers while shooting just 36 percent from the field and 26 percent from deep (6.3 attempts per contest).

Acuff was forcing it at times on the offensive end, both in shooting and passing, although his alarming 4.7 turnovers per game don’t tell the whole story of his game. Acuff had plenty of good looks that were mishandled by teammates or by guys failing to hit their spots in certain offensive sets.

My take–Acuff’s offense is going to be fine. His confidence is undeniable, and even through the struggles, he didn’t shy away from attacking the basket and being aggressive on that end of the floor.

The defense was, as expected, not ideal.

Guards will look to beat Acuff off the dribble and attack the basket, as was the case with Brooklyn Nets guard and sixth overall pick Mikel Brown Jr., who took Acuff to the basket on multiple possessions during their matchup earlier this week.

Mikel Brown Jr after hitting a three in Darius Acuff face 👀

(h/t @NetsKingdomAJ) pic.twitter.com/GUejWY7Of3

— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) July 15, 2026

Important reminder: Summer League statistics are not a true indicator of who a player is or will become.

Here are some star guards’ numbers from Las Vegas over the years in comparison to Darius Acuff Jr.’s:

Stephen Curry: 17.4 points | 4.6 rebounds | 4.2 assists | 3.6 turnovers | 32% FG | 34% 3PT

Jalen Brunson: 6.8 points | 2.8 rebounds | 4.4 assists | 3.0 turnovers | 22% FG | 30% 3PT

Chris Paul: 11.8 points | 5.2 rebounds | 5.5 assists | 2.2 turnovers | 37% FG | 33% 3PT

Trae Young: 17.0 points | 1.0 rebounds | 6.8 assists | 3.8 turnovers | 38% FG | 38% 3PT

Jamal Murray: 19.6 points | 5.0 rebounds | 2.4 assists | 2.8 turnovers | 42% FG | 27% 3PT

Derrick Rose: 9.5 points | 4.0 rebounds | 5.5 assists | 4.0 turnovers | 32% FG | 34% 3PT

Acuff is 19 years old. There is a long way to go before we learn what kind of player he’s going to be at the NBA level, and an inefficient Summer League showing isn’t a reason to sound the alarm.

Even amid struggles, Acuff averaged nearly 20 points per game and demanded constant attention from opposing defenses, often facing double teams and blitzes. As you can see above, this can happen with a ball-dominant guard who has a very high usage rate.

It’s early. Very, very early. Acuff can score; there is no questioning that. Efficiency, turnovers, and defense.

Those are areas of improvement to watch, and I expect Darius Acuff to look like the Sacramento Kings’ franchise guard sooner rather than later.

More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports

What is the next Sacramento Kings Offseason Event?

With Summer League in the rearview, the Sacramento Kings will head into the dog days of summer and the NBA offseason looking to stabilize its roster for the upcoming 2026-27 season.

Will general manager Scott Perry make any more significant moves? How will this roster look come the start of training camp this fall?

Stay tuned into Sactown Sports all offseason long for Sacramento Kings updates, analysis, and much more.

Upcoming Sacramento Kings Offseason Schedule

• August TBD – 2026-27 NBA Schedule release
• Late September – NBA training camps begin

Thank you for reading SactownSports.com. Follow us on X/Twitter and Google News, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Related

Kings Announce 2026-27 Preseason Schedule and Broadcast TeamFaithful Flashbacks #38: Montana’s First StartAthletics Injury Updates: Kurtz, Gelof & more49ers announce signing of P Jack BouwmeesterFarewell, Las Vegas: Kings takeaways from NBA Summer LeagueFaithful Flashbacks #39: Bill Walsh Steps Away