Darius Acuff Jr. wasted no time answering the noise from his rough NBA debut.
Two nights after opening his professional career with a tough outing, the former Arkansas point guard exploded for 33 points Friday night against the Portland Trail Blazers. Sacramento still dropped the game 128-120 and slipped to 0-2, but Acuff’s night stood out as the biggest early headline for the Pro Hogs as the 2026-27 NBA season got underway.
Acuff did his damage on 10-of-26 shooting, knocked down two 3-pointers and went 11 of 12 at the line. He added four assists and three turnovers in 37 minutes, according to the box score from the Kings’ loss.
That was a major step forward from his first NBA game against the Los Angeles Clippers, when he finished with 12 points on 5-of-24 shooting, missed all seven of his attempts from deep and turned it over four times. Afterward, he pointed directly at the issue.
“There was a lot of zero-pass shots starting with myself. I've got to be better on that part, especially as (a point guard),” Acuff told reporters after the loss, according to KNWA's coverage of the Pro Hogs' opening week.
Against Portland, the scoring came much more naturally. Acuff kept attacking, drew 12 free-throw attempts and helped keep Sacramento in the mix even though his jumper was still uneven, especially from long range. He scored 11 of his points in the fourth quarter as the Kings tried to climb back, but Portland had already flipped the game with a 44-point third quarter that wiped out Sacramento’s halftime lead.
The performance doesn’t erase the concerns from his debut, and the questions around his efficiency and decision-making are still there. But for a rookie trying to find his footing, a 33-point response is a strong early signal.
Acuff wasn’t the only former Razorback making noise in the league’s first week.
Trevon Brazile, starting his rookie season with the Denver Nuggets after being picked in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft, pulled down 12 rebounds in 18 minutes against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday. Denver lost 96-84, but Brazile’s work on the glass stood out even though his shot never found a rhythm. His 18 minutes were third among Nuggets bench players, and his effort gave him a way to help without needing to score.
Arkansas had 11 former Razorbacks on NBA opening-day rosters, according to the official Arkansas Athletics roster announcement, and seven of them saw action over the first three days of the season.
Daniel Gafford started the year with Dallas and posted two points, three rebounds and two blocks in 21 minutes in a win over the Houston Rockets. Jordan Walsh opened for Boston against Detroit and finished with six rebounds in 13 minutes, but he did not score in the Celtics’ 121-113 loss.
Isaiah Joe had eight points and two 3-pointers in Detroit’s win over Boston. Jaylin Williams played in two games for Oklahoma City and averaged four points, 5.5 rebounds and two assists across those first two appearances.
A few former Hogs were unavailable to start the season. Anthony Black, Moses Moody and Adou Thiero were dealing with injuries, while rookie Meleek Thomas had not yet cracked Cleveland’s rotation through the first three days.
The first week gave Arkansas fans a clean look at the different lanes its former players are trying to carve out in the NBA. Acuff is trying to grow into a lead guard role after being selected seventh overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Brazile is looking to stick by bringing energy, rebounding and defense. Gafford, Joe and Williams are working to keep their places.
Walsh is trying to turn defense and rebounding into more.
For now, Acuff’s 33-point night is the loudest early note from the group. It was a strong answer after a shaky start, and a reminder of why he drew so much attention in the first place.
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Calipari has already adjusted the offense in anticipation of the test, putting more of the emphasis on defensive intensity and competitiveness as the Razorbacks prepare for a game that should feel plenty real despite the exhibition label. Freshman Miikka Muurinen was recently cleared after eligibility concerns, adding another layer to Arkansas preseason picture, and with both teams expecting a competitive night, the bigger question is how much the Razorbacks can learn before the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]