Darius Acuff Jr shot just 32.9% from the field and 14.8% from 3-point range in his first three NBA games, but the rookie still managed to average 22.3 points per game, including 33 points in The necklaces‘opening house on Friday.
Like Mike Varkunow of The Athletic tweetsAcuff has been able to maintain a solid average in large part because he has already taken just 73 shots (24.3 per night). According to Varkunov, those 73 field-goal attempts are the most by a rookie in his first three games since the start of the 1975/76 season, easily surpassing the 64 that Kevin Durant took for the SuperSonics back in 2007.
While Acuff may not average 24 shots per game all year, his numbers so far reflect the fact that the rebuilding Kings are fully committed to him playing a major role in their offense in his first NBA season. In addition to leading the team in shots, the 19-year-old also ranks first among Kings players in usage (34.0%) and second in minutes per game (36.0).
We’ve got more from across the Pacific:
- Reporting to Stockton The necklaces at the meeting, playing Sean Pedula spoke with Brenden Nunes of Sactown Sports 1140 (Link to video on Twitter) about why he considers his new two-way transaction from Sacramento makes sense for both him and the team, what he can bring to the organization and the areas he looks to build on after being named the G League Rookie of the Year last season.
- After an embarrassing loss to Portland earlier in the season, the The sun evened their record at 1-1 after beating Golden State on Saturday. However, many of the same weaknesses the club displayed in its season opener carried over into the victory over a depleted Warriors squad. Doug Haller of The Athletic and Dwayne Rankin of the Arizona Republicwho both note that rebounding continues to be an issue for Phoenix. After finishing 29th in the NBA in defensive rebounds per game last season, the Suns are short on big men Mark Williams and Very Igadara – struggled to control the glass earlier this fall. Entering Monday’s game against Oklahoma City, Phoenix was ranked 29th in rushing offense and 30th in rushing defense.
- Although Kobe Brea and CJ Huntley recently abandoned bilateral contracts The sunAs PHNX Sports’ Gerald Burge notes, both players are on the training camp roster fielded by Phoenix’s G-League affiliate, the Valley Suns (Twitter references).
- Conversely, an undrafted rookie big man Rafael Castrowho was in the camp together with v Lakers, does not appear on Coachella Valley Lakers camp roster, tweets Benjamin Royer of the Orange County Register.
