Jalen Brunson, an undersized point guard, has dominated the NBA Finals, with an average of 29.5 points, leading the New York Knicks to a remarkable 3-1 lead over the San Antonio Spurs. He’s done so by scoring at all three levels, and ultimately not shying away from the 7’4 unanimous Defensive Player of the Year in Victor Wembanyama, whom he’s drilled countless shots over.
What does this mean for the LA Clippers? Well, due to the fact that Brunson is at a height disadvantage and on the verge of entering the promised land, he’s modern-day proof that Darius Acuff Jr. can still become a superstar, despite measuring in at the combine at six-foot-three, and should be taken at fifth overall.
So, on draft night, the Clippers’ front office should use Brunson’s run on the biggest stage as a reason to snag Acuff Jr. off the board, which, to many fans, is the obvious choice, considering he’s widely regarded as the best player available beyond the likely top-four.
If Jalen Brunson can do it, surely Darius Acuff Jr. has the potential to
Being under the belief that Darius Acuff Jr., one day in the future, could do what Jalen Brunson is doing in the NBA Finals is not a stretch, even the slightest. This is because both guards have mastered creating space with the rock, reaching their sweet spots, and scoring through contests shots against the defense.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that Acuff Jr. was third in the entire country in scoring for the Arkansas Razorbacks at 23.5 points per game, and he did so while shooting 48.4% from the field and 44.0% from beyond the arc on nearly six attempts.
Long story short, these numbers are impressive; there’s no other way around it. Acuff Jr. is a naturally gifted scorer, just like Brunson, and at a height like theirs, you cannot teach how to get buckets. A player either has it or they don’t.
The trait they also share is playmaking. Brunson, as we all know, is a one-of-a-kind at reading the passing lanes and executing to perfection, but so is Acuff Jr., who averaged 6.4 assists throughout 36 games.
That said, though there are various directions the Clippers could go with the fifth pick, using the New York Knicks’ star as grounds for taking Acuff Jr. is extremely smart. The resemblance between the two is evident, and based on many factors, there’s optimism that the 19-year-old can live up to Brunson’s name, and maybe exceed it.
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