Darius Acuff Jr. has established himself as one of the young guards to watch, especially with opening night fast approaching. However, what sets him apart from other rookies has nothing to do with his scoring or ball-handling. The key to this player’s success with the Sacramento Kings is his mentality, which lets him keep attacking the basket no matter how poorly he shoots. Instead of letting his misses dictate his next move, Acuff keeps doing what he does best and creates trouble for opposing defenses.
The One Skill That Makes Darius Acuff Jr. A Special Talent
Confidence
Another hard-to-teach quality in young guards is staying aggressive in tough-shooting situations, and Acuff seems strong there. Many guards become timid after a couple of misses, taking safer shots or passing to safer spots. Acuff operates differently because he knows that just because his last shot didn’t go in, it doesn’t mean the next one will be a brick, too. He is ready to keep looking for his shots, even with his preparation and skills.
This approach is especially useful for a guard who has to create offense against tough-to-defend opponents in the NBA. Acuff’s confidence lets him play his game, using his handles and creating separation rather than relying on teammates to set up open shots. Even when defenders know what he’ll do, he still has no problem shooting tough shots. His level of confidence will help Acuff on his path to potentially becoming the Rookie of the Year.
Preseason Results
Acuff’s early preseason games have clearly demonstrated the importance of his mentality. For example, in his first preseason game on October 5th against the Los Angeles Lakers, he scored 19 points on 8/17 shooting and had four assists, proving he’s ready to play on offense. The next two preseason games, however, reminded everyone that not everything will be easy for him as he plays in the NBA for the first time, because his shooting percentage in those games was poor. However, his 25 points and four three-pointers in his third game against the Golden State Warriors on October 10th showed he wasn’t ready to give up.
Mentality Makes Darius Acuff Jr. A Tough Guard
What makes Acuff hard to argue against is that he’s not only a versatile scorer, but he also refuses to get discouraged. He can make the move, shoot from the outside, drive to the basket, or pass to his teammates whenever defenders concentrate on defending his shot. Once a guard keeps looking for ways to score after missing a couple of times, defenders can’t let their guard down and think the guard will become inactive. They have to stay close, deny every jumper, and be ready to defend the space they leave.
Acuff’s mental makeup is exactly what a young point guard needs in the NBA. Acuff must learn to balance confidence with smart play, as he can shoot efficiently at times but also needs to score around the basket or dish the ball to others. He decides to keep shooting or use his playmaking skills to create chances for the team. Acuff’s mental makeup gives him the advantage of always being ready to take responsibility for creating scoring opportunities.
The Last Word
Ultimately, what makes Acuff so remarkable is his mindset: believing the next shot will go in, even after several consecutive misses. This mindset lets him create, take responsibility, and put pressure on opponents. His early-season performances show how quickly a rough shooting streak can become productive if he sticks to his philosophy. Of course, adjusting to NBA basketball will mean learning to choose good shooting opportunities and shoot consistently, but his fearlessness will give him a solid base. For a rookie guard trying to prove himself, this quality may become a game changer and will set him apart from the rest of the Kings’ young core.
Featured Image: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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