Eric Musselman explains why it’s too early to judge Darius Acuff Jr.’s defense

The first few games of NBA Summer League haven’t gone as planned for Darius Acuff Jr., but former Sacramento Kings head coach and current USC coach Eric Musselman believes it’s far too early to question the rookie guard’s long-term outlook.

Acuff is entering the NBA after a dominant freshman season at Arkansas, averaging 23.5 points and 6.4 assists while shooting 44 percent from three-point range.

The high-scoring guard earned SEC Player of the Year, SEC Rookie of the Year and Consensus All-American honors before the Kings selected him with the seventh overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

While Acuff’s shot-making ability has flashed in Las Vegas, much of the criticism surrounding his Summer League performance has centered on the defensive end. Musselman, however, believes that context matters.

“I watched so many of the Arkansas games,” Musselman said on Sactown Sports’ The Drive Guys. “Acuff is such a special, talented player when you look at what he does from an offensive standpoint. His ability to create shots when the shot clock is winding down. He’s got great creativity off the bounce.”

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 09: Keaton Wagler #1 of the LA Clippers drives against Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Sacramento Kings in the second half of a 2026 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 09, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

More on Darius Acuff Jr.

Musselman acknowledged that defense remains an area for growth but believes that Darius Acuff Jr.’s college workload contributed to that perception.

“Defensively, so much was asked of him at Arkansas,” Musselman said. “I think from a defensive standpoint, he’s going to get better. He’s going to be able to create steals defensively.”

The veteran coach also pushed back on the idea that college stars are always expected to expend maximum energy on both ends of the floor. Instead, he explained that coaches often have to balance winning games with preserving their most important offensive players.

“When you have a special offensive player, there are times you’ve got to try to protect the player,” Musselman said. “From an energy standpoint, how much energy do you need a guy to exert on both sides of the ball? Those are decisions whether it’s coaching in the NBA or coaching in college.”

Musselman also cautioned against drawing sweeping conclusions from a handful of Summer League appearances, emphasizing that development–not immediate production–is the true purpose of July basketball.

Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Sacramento Kings shoots a technical foul shot against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half in the California Classic a NBA Summer League game at Golden 1 Center on July 04, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

“There’s way too much reaction on a good game or a bad game,” Musselman said. “Summer League is about learning. Summer League is about getting your feet wet. It’s about gaining experience.”

Rather than focusing solely on box scores, Musselman said the important question is whether young players use Summer League as a springboard before training camp.

“It’s the totality of gaining the experience in July, and then figuring out… what do I have to improve in August, September and October before you play your first regular-season game?” Musselman said.

For Darius Acuff Jr., whose offensive résumé was among the strongest in the 2026 draft class, Musselman believes the flashes of elite shot creation remain the bigger indicator of what his NBA future can become than a few uneven Summer League performances.

Listen to The Drive Guys from 2 – 6 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.

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What is the next Sacramento Kings Offseason Event?

Darius Acuff Jr. & the Sacramento Kings will continue their Las Vegas Summer League slate on Tuesday afternoon at UNLV when they play the first game of a back-to-back.

Sacramento is set to face the sixth-overall pick, Mikel Brown Jr., and the Brooklyn Nets at 3 p.m. on Tuesday at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sactown Sports will be ON SITE in Las Vegas ALL WEEK LONG from July 12-19th! Be sure to remain locked into Sactown Sports for your Sacramento Kings Summer League news, analysis, and much more!

Upcoming Sacramento Kings Offseason Schedule

• Thursday, July 9th – Sunday, July 19th – NBA Las Vegas Summer League
• August TBD – 2026-27 NBA Schedule release
• Late September – NBA training camps begin

2026 Sacramento Kings Las Vegas Summer League Schedule

• Tuesday, July 14: vs. Brooklyn Nets – 3 p.m. PT (Prime Video)
• Wednesday, July 15: vs. Boston Celtics – 5 p.m. PT (ESPN 2)
• Final game TBD

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