Sacramento Kings rookie Darius Acuff Jr. is wasting little time making NBA history, although his latest accomplishment comes with an unusual distinction. Just three games into his professional career, Acuff has attempted 73 field goals, the most by any player through his first three NBA appearances. The 2026 first-round pick has also reportedly become the first player in league history to attempt at least 20 shots in each of his first three games.
Acuff attempted 24 shots in his NBA debut against the Los Angeles Clippers, followed by 26 against the Portland Trail Blazers and another 23 during Sunday's matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies. The remarkable shooting volume highlights how quickly Sacramento has placed significant offensive responsibility on its young guard. However, Acuff's early NBA career has featured both impressive scoring performances and shooting struggles.
He opened the season with 12 points on 5-of-24 shooting against the Clippers before bouncing back with 33 points in Sacramento's loss to Portland. The former Arkansas standout followed that performance with 22 points and seven assists against Memphis, although the Kings suffered another defeat, falling 123-112. Through three games, Acuff has scored 67 points, averaging 22.3 per contest.
His aggressive approach has provided Sacramento with an intriguing offensive option, but efficiency remains an area for improvement as he adjusts to the NBA. The Kings selected Acuff with the seventh overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft after an impressive freshman season at Arkansas. His willingness to take difficult shots and create his own offense helped establish him as one of the most exciting guards in his draft class.
Now, Sacramento is giving him the opportunity to develop those skills against NBA competition. The Kings have opened the season with three consecutive losses, making Acuff's development one of the team's most compelling early storylines. While the rookie's historic shot volume has generated attention, his ability to turn those opportunities into efficient scoring will ultimately determine how quickly he develops into a reliable offensive leader.
Three games into his career, Acuff has already demonstrated that he isn't afraid of the moment. The next challenge is making those shots count.
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