John Wall didn’t hold back when he talked about Darius Acuff Jr., and the praise landed with real weight.
Acuff, who spent his year at Arkansas under John Calipari, already built a reputation as one of the country’s top point guards in college. That Calipari connection matters, too. The coach has sent plenty of elite guards to the next level, with Derrick Rose, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Wall himself all part of that line.
Now Acuff is in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings, and he’s being viewed as one of the biggest favorites to win Rookie of the Year in the 2026-27 season. Sacramento is looking for a star it can build around, and Acuff’s appeal is obvious even though he hasn’t been playing at the highest level at NBA Summer League.
His game still points to a bright future. Acuff has the kind of scoring and playmaking ability that fits the modern NBA, and Wall made it clear he sees that upside.
"I told Coach Cal, You've had a lot of great guards that were super fast and athletic. He's the best scoring point guard you've had by far on all three levels, got the midrange, got the floater, and can shoot the three. He scores it, man," Wall said during the broadcast of a Summer League game between the Kings and Wizards.
For Wall, that wasn’t just casual praise. It felt like one Calipari guard recognizing another, with Acuff now carrying the burden of proving he belongs in the same conversation as the program’s most successful NBA point guards.
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The Kings perfect Summer League run ended in a 104-85 loss to Washington, and the scoreline came with a reminder that summer success can be fragile once the competition tightens. Maxime Raynaud still gave Sacramento plenty to like in his debut, finishing with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while the team also got a look at a two-big setup by starting Raynaud alongside Dylan Cardwell.
What stood out just as much was how quickly the game tilted away from Sacramento once Washington found rhythm and pressure. Darius Acuff Jr. had a rough shooting night, and the Kings never really solved the defensive issues that let the Wizards keep control, leaving this loss to feel less like a blip and more like a useful warning sign for what still needs cleaning up. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Just Gave An Undrafted Rookie A Real Chance To Impress
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Ralph has not yet appeared in a Summer League game, and he was out during the California Classic, but the opportunity alone gives him a platform to keep building. For a player trying to turn a strong college run into a real career, the next stretch is about staying ready, absorbing everything he can and hoping the work eventually opens a door to a G League role and, down the line, an NBA roster spot. [Read more 🡒]