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By Bryan Colbert Jr.
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Sacramento Kings rookie Darius Acuff Jr. is wasting little time making a name for himself in the NBA, and his latest performance has placed him alongside some of basketball's biggest legends.
Acuff made history Monday night, becoming the first rookie since Luka Doncic in 2019 to record at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists in three consecutive games.
The 19-year-old also became just the second rookie in Kings franchise history to accomplish the feat, joining Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson, who did so during the 1960-61 season when the franchise was known as the Cincinnati Royals.
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Acuff reached the milestone during Sacramento's 115-100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, finishing with 25 points, six assists and five rebounds.
The performance helped the Kings secure their first victory of the 2026-27 season after opening with six consecutive losses. But Monday's showing was just the latest impressive outing from the former Arkansas standout.
Acuff scored 38 points against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, connecting on nine three-pointers to tie the NBA rookie record for most three-pointers made in a single game.
Two nights earlier, he delivered another outstanding performance against the New Orleans Pelicans, finishing with 34 points, 14 assists and six rebounds.
Those three performances have established Acuff as one of the league's most productive young guards during the opening weeks of the season.
Selected seventh overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, Acuff entered the league with considerable expectations following his standout college career at Arkansas. His ability to create scoring opportunities, attack defenders and facilitate for teammates has already made him a central part of Sacramento's offense.
Through his first seven NBA games, Acuff is averaging 26.3 points and 6.3 assists per contest.
While the Kings have struggled to establish consistency, their rookie guard has provided plenty of reasons for optimism.
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The comparisons to Doncic and Robertson highlight just how rare Acuff's early production has been, although maintaining that level of play over an entire season will present a much greater challenge.
For Sacramento, however, the encouraging signs are difficult to ignore.
The Kings may still have plenty of work ahead of them, but Acuff is already showing why he could become a cornerstone of the franchise's future.
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