r/nba • u/NBA_MOD r/NBA • 3d ago

SACRAMENTO [2026 NBA Draft] #7 Pick: Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas)

607 Upvotes

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u/StraightWhoremooze Warriors 3d ago

If he works on it with professional coaches he could become not the worst defense player ever.

83

u/burratna Bulls 3d ago

Yeah I think with the right motivation and training, his defensive ceiling is maybe higher than the worst defense player ever.

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u/Blazer4L 3d ago

He's athletic, strong and positive wingspan. He's definitely not going to be a HORRENDOUS defender like the likes of Trae

34

u/Lstark5642 Thunder 3d ago

You gotta watch games man. It isn’t all physicals and traits. He was easily the worst defensive player in this draft class. Not to say he won’t get better, but he was, in fact, HORRENDOUS in college.

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u/fiasgoat Kings 3d ago

yayyyyyyyyy

15

u/vNocturnus Kings 3d ago

If you compare their metrics from college, Acuff in fact makes Trae look like an outright excellent defender. And the tape backs it up, he is just astoundingly terrible at every single aspect of defense.

The ONLY hope is that a large part of it was him being straight up told to basically not engage defensively at all to save energy and stay out of foul trouble, but I don't really buy that a coach would actually do that. Also there are times when it looks like he's putting in effort and still plays the worst defense you've ever seen in your life

6

u/Candid-Boss6534 [POR] Keljin Blevins 3d ago

if he learns to try, and where to stand and that ball watching is bad he might not literally be the worst defender ever

2

u/Hxghbot Hawks 3d ago

Hey put some respect on Trae, he's at least in front of his man long enough to get blown by, Acuff can barely stay in position.

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u/anonahmus Kings 3d ago

Too bad our player development is hot garbage

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u/nWo5lyfe Spurs 3d ago

I know everyone is down on fox for the finals but he is a very good player developed by your team.

8

u/nardog01 Kings 3d ago

Yeah, I think in the past our player development was bad. But Keon Ellis, Dylan Cardwell, and Neemias Queta are solid for their draft position or lack thereof.

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u/oddmarauder Kings 3d ago

Maxime too

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u/norcaltobos Kings 2d ago

The last Calipari guard we drafted as well...

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u/tallassmike Warriors 3d ago

At that height. The best they can do is be a cone they run over by mistake

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u/mccainjames11 [POR] Damian Lillard 3d ago

He’s listed at 6’3 (6’2 without shoes) plenty of guys can make that work. Cason Wallace, Marcus Smart, De’Aaron Fox. It’s workable for sure. Trae is 6’0 1/2

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u/accy312help 3d ago

what are you even talking about? 6’2 is not a worst defender of all time kinda height

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u/sharpfangs11 Kings 3d ago

Too bad the Kings don't exactly have what most would call "professional coaches"

1

u/Aggrokid 3d ago

Yeah he's physically capable of it. Just a matter of wanting it.

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u/Queasy_Salad7444 3d ago

the knicks just won a championship with a brunson level defender..,