[Highlights] Darius Acuff Jr. full highlights vs. Los Angeles Lakers (127-103 L) - preseason:19 Points on 8⁄17 FG (47.1%), 1⁄4 from 3 (25.0%), 2⁄2 FT, 2 Rebounds, 4 Assists (5 TOV), 1 Steal, 1 Block, 2 PF, and a +/- of -13 in 27:25 minutes played.
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Really impressed with Acuff. Kid has a bright future.
whats the difference between him and Cam Thomas or Mcclung?
Better Scorer and much Better Passer. Those are terrible comps.
He’s a more dynamic athlete than either one of those guys and on a completely different level as a playmaker.. If Thomas had the playmaking ability and willingness of acuff he would absolutely have a place in this league.
I wish people wouldn’t downvote for a question that is relevant. OP didn’t even criticize or offer a negative opinion. Literally asked a question.
I’m going to use Thomas as an example because I know his game better than Mcclung. I’d say the differences go three levels deep.
Scoring Mentality/Shot Selection
I don’t know if Acuff is necessarily a more talented scorer than Thomas, but he is a more disciplined player. Dude is super controlled and disciplined. The biggest issue with Thomas scoring is he was a gunner and it made him only an average-ish efficiency guy despite having a lot of talent. Acuff is a guy who definitely has a chance to have a .600 TS% which is way more valuable on a lower scoring volume than what Thomas did.
Passing and running an offense
Probably the #1 thing. Acuff looks like a point guard. He is more in the CP3 mold of deliberate than high flying passer the way Westbrook was for example. Probably won’t be the best passer in the league, but can easily be a top 10 guy. Between this and his scoring he has a good chance to be a guy who really steadies an offense and his ultimate offensive upside is an offensive engine which teams really covet (think peak Haliburton level).
Chance to be ok defensively
Thomas is a HORRIBLE defender. That’s honestly what really kills him. Acuff was pretty horrible in college too. But unlike Thomas, Acuff at least has some tools. He’s big and strong which would allow him to be a guy that’s tough to go at directly. Thomas is just horrible at defense. Acuff also is younger and was awful in college which means it’s possible he was just bad because he was given too high a load or cause college is weird. It’s unlikely but we’ve seen horrible college defenders like Fultz and Ben Simmons change in the NBA. Saying Acuff has defensive upside is a bridge too far, but he has relative upside compared to Thomas.
Kings fans are so hyped he’s a better prospect than DeAaron Fox.
I’m one of the Kings fans that isn’t as hyped about Acuff coming into the draft but if you were following the draft, then so many prospects were better prospects than Fox. It’s not even shade on Fox, it’s just a reality of how good college basketball and basketball development has become.
Fox was drafted #5 as a small PG who can’t shoot 3’s. That would not happen today. He’d be a late 20s pick or someone who stays in college for the NIL money. Every single guard prospect this year could shoot the 3 ball at a whole different level than Fox could. And that’s just because of the era difference.
Comparing both as rookies:
Acuff better shooter from mid range. From long distance. Better passer. Better pick n roll operator.
Fox: Faster
Both: suck on D.
Acuff is nowhere near Fox on defense
That’s not saying much. Fox has been a terrible defender for the majority of his career. I don’t think the gap between the two is large on that end.
Fox was a horrible defender for most of the years he was here tbh
The one thing is that his frame isn’t necessarily horrible for someone to play defense, so I think if he applies himself, he can get to like a net neutral level on D.
His conditioning and feel for the pace is wayyyy better than in summer league. He looked so much more comfortable than DP so I’ll take that. I think as long as we let him do his thing until a real coach comes in, he will be alright.
No way he’s 6-2
He’s 6’2” barefoot, 6’3”-6’4” in shoes.
Not really a subjective thing up for debate
Pretty sure they make you measure at the combine now to avoid false measurements
looks like another short SG pretending to be a PG
He is a great passer too, led the SEC in assists
first player to average the most points and assists in the sec since Pete Maravich btw
Lol his PG chops is probably more impressive than his scoring, but gets overshadowed because it’s not as flashy. He didn’t really start until Calapari made him, which suggests he’s a natural at it.
Ohh you new watching ball, I see. But try to understand the basic first, nephew
Let’s jack up more 3s and we have the new Tre young
He’s bigger than Trae in every way. Taller, longer, heavier, etc.
It kind of doesn’t matter because woat defense lmao on offense he can very much be Trae like which is not a bad thing
Being bigger helps with defense. It’s why Jalen Brunson won a chip while Cam Thomas is what he is.