Darius Acuff’s Summer League struggles shouldn’t change the bigger picture

Expectations were always going to be lofty for Darius Acuff Jr. after the Sacramento Kings selected the dynamic scoring guard with the 7th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Acuff entered Summer League carrying comparisons to star guards and the hope that he could become a foundational piece for a franchise searching for its next cornerstone.

While flashes of that talent appeared during the California Classic, Las Vegas proved to be a much tougher test.

Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Sacramento Kings goes up for a layup against Norris Agbakoko #21 of the Washington Wizards in the third quarter of a 2026 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 12, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)

Should there be concern regarding Darius Acuff Jr.’s Summer League?

Across three Summer League games in Las Vegas, Darius Acuff Jr. averaged 19.0 points, 5.3 assists and 1.0 steals, but he also shot just 36 percent from the field, 26 percent from three-point range and committed 4.7 turnovers per game.

Those numbers led to plenty of criticism, but Sactown Sports’ Jason Ross believes the evaluation requires much more context.

“I have always felt Summer League is 100 percent about trial and error,” Ross said on Sactown Sports’ The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross. “The one thing I would never worry about in Summer League is someone’s shooting percentage.”

Ross noted that Summer League often becomes a laboratory for young players trying to expand their games, making efficiency less important than development.

The turnovers also don’t fully tell Acuff’s story. While the rookie certainly forced the issue at times as both a scorer and passer, several of his giveaways came when teammates mishandled passes or failed to be in the proper spots offensively.

Sacramento also asked Acuff to shoulder primary ball-handling duties against aggressive defenses focused entirely on slowing him down.

Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Sacramento Kings drives against Seth Trimble #55 of the Washington Wizards in the third quarter of a 2026 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 12, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)

Ross believes opposing teams immediately identified a clear strategy.

“They put a bunch of guys that were 6-foot-6 to 6-foot-9 on him,” Ross said. “That’s exactly what I would do. Put length on him.”

Even with those struggles, Ross came away encouraged by Darius Acuff’s long-term upside.

“You watch a guy that’s quick, but not the quickest. I think it’s about him adjusting,” Ross explained. “What I don’t know is how he will now fit with Sabonis and with LaVine, where he’s not necessarily option No. 1.”

Ross also cautioned against comparing Acuff’s early performances to established NBA stars too quickly, pointing to Jalen Brunson’s gradual development before blossoming into an All-NBA guard.

For Acuff, Summer League exposed areas that need refinement–particularly decision-making, shot selection and adapting to NBA length–but it also reinforced why Sacramento believed in his offensive ceiling.

The production wasn’t perfect, but neither was it cause for panic.

For a rookie expected to carry a significant offensive workload from day one, Summer League served exactly the purpose Ross believes it should: a chance to experiment, make mistakes and begin the adjustment to the NBA.

Listen to The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross from 6 – 10 a.m. PDT, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.

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What is the next Sacramento Kings Offseason Event?

The start of the 2026-27 season is quickly approaching for the Sacramento Kings.

Sacramento will begin training camp in late September as they prepare to begin preseason play on Monday, October 5th when they face Luka Doncic and the new-look Los Angeles Lakers at Golden 1 Center.

Be sure to stay tuned into Sactown Sports all offseason for roster updates, schedule announcements, analysis, and much more.

Upcoming Sacramento Kings Offseason Schedule

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

Sacramento Kings 2026-27 Preseason Schedule

• Monday, October 5th vs. Los Angeles Lakers (7 P.M. PST)
• Thursday, October 8th @ Los Angeles Lakers (7:30 P.M. PST)
• Saturday, October 10th @ Golden State Warriors (5:30 P.M. PST)
• Tuesday, October 13th vs. Portland Trail Blazers (7:00 P.M. PST)
• Friday, October 16th @ San Antonio Spurs (7:00 P.M. PST)

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