Mikel Brown Jr. #0 of the Brooklyn Nets is guarded by Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Sacramento Kings on July 14, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Mandatory photo credit: Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

LAS VEGAS — On Tuesday, it was Darius Acuff Jr. and the Sacramento Kings who took on Mikel Brown Jr. and the Brooklyn Nets at Thomas & Mack Center at 3 p.m. PDT.

The Kings got down big early and were unable to make it a game as they were defeated by the Nets, 115-83.

However, the story with the Kings isn’t Summer League win totals. The Kings care more about the development of their seventh overall pick and how the other young guys on the roster, who they view as the beginning of a new young core, develop and build chemistry with one another.

In the first Vegas Summer League game for Darius Acuff Jr., he wasn’t at his sharpest. Acuff Jr. went 6-of-20 with 19 points and seven assists, all while playing well enough to have double-digit assist numbers. However, Acuff Jr. has struggled with efficiency and shot-making, which has plagued him much like it did in the California Classic games he played, where he shot just over 33% in his two games. For a guy who led the SEC in points and assists last season, the early shot-making woes are certainly of notice to those of us around the team, and to Acuff himself.

“I got to be better on both ends of the floor, especially as a point guard,” Acuff Jr. told the media on Thursday. “Just trying to be more efficient. I don’t know what’s going on [with my shooting], but I’m trying to get my assists up for sure, getting those guys involved. I know they’re great players, but as long as we keep getting the win, it’s good for us.”

In Sunday’s matchup, Darius again struggled with his efficiency during his second Vegas Summer League game. He finished with 19 points on 6-of-20 shooting from the field, another rough performance as far as offensive efficiency goes, while turning the ball over four times.

So, coming into Tuesday’s matchup against the Nets, there were expectations surrounding Acuff Jr. putting on an improved offensive showing. Darius had the best game of his Summer League as he dropped 26 points on 9-of-18 shooting during his just over 26 minutes on the court.

“I think he played at a little bit more pace,” Kings coach Chris Darnell said on Tuesday. “I think that he [Acuff] and Alex found some continuity out of one of our actions where they were able to create some advantages. He was able to get downhill and then with some of the go screens we were setting, he was able to free himself up for some shots as well. So that was great to see.”

It’s obviously way too early to make any determinations on any of the 2026 draft class, but Kings fans should be very excited about the early performance from Emanuel Sharp. Sharp took over the game for the Kings on Tuesday as he showed why the Kings took him 45th overall in this year’s draft. After impressing in the California Classic and in early Summer League action, Sharp had a terrific game against the Nets on Tuesday as he scored 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting while also adding four steals.

“Yeah, he’s a competitor,” coach Darnell told me on Tuesday after the game. “He always plays hard no matter what the score is and I love that about him.”

Sharp has improved in each game he has played so far in Summer League. I asked him about his offensive performance and how he feels at this point.

“I think I’m just getting more comfortable the more we play,” Sharp said. “The team’s still trying to get on the same page, but I’m trying to do what I can to help them, whether that’s being vocal, trying to get them energy, trying to be that spark off the bench. Just trying to do whatever I can to help.”

It sure seems that Emanuel Sharp is the steal of the draft for the Kings and maybe in the whole NBA. Yet, Sharp is just trying to play his game and not let his newfound position after being drafted derail him.

“I mean, it is different, but it’s more or less the same thing,” Sharp said about the NBA game. “We have to have the same principles. We all got to play hard. We have to play together and we have to enjoy it and listen to the game plan the coach has put out for us because this is basketball at the end of the day. I think college was just more organized with the roster, but nonetheless, it’s all the same. We all got to go out there and compete together.”

The Kings started their Summer League schedule at the California Classic on the right foot. They went undefeated in three games and won their first Vegas Summer League game. However, they have taken a step back in the last two games of the schedule. They have lacked physicality in the last two games and have seemed disjointed, which hasn’t left a good feeling for the Kings.

“We were just soft,” Kings center Dylan Cardwell said. “We didn’t play to our identity. We were just soft.”

The Kings have a long way to go before their roster really meshes together, and it will just restart when they introduce their regulars into the mix during training camp this fall.

The Kings will wrap up their current Summer League schedule on Wednesday against the Celtics at 5 p.m. PDT.