NBA Analyst Compares Kings’ Acuff Jr. To NBA Legend

Stephen A. Smith praised Sacramento Kings rookie Darius Acuff Jr., who's scored 30-plus points twice in five games, comparing him to legend Allen Iverson.

Smith said Acuff is the "future Allen Iverson" on Friday. It's high praise for the 19-year-old who embodies the undersized scoring guard archetype Iverson popularized in the early 2000s.

Acuff's confidence is otherworldly for a first-year player. He leads the league with 23.8 shot attempts per game, which has been key to his inefficient performances.

Sacramento's No. 7 pick became the first rookie to score 30 points in the team's 128-120 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers last Friday and joined elite company with NBA superstars fresh off a 34-point, 14-assist outing in a 132-120 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.

The 6-foot-3 guard has flashed potential as a franchise cornerstone despite the losses. He's carried his college success at Arkansas into the NBA, and the Kings desperately need a face to lead the team out of its long rebuild.

Iverson did the same for the Philadelphia 76ers in his first tenure. The shifty right-to-left crossover and high-volume shooting powered the franchise to consecutive playoff appearances.

He peaked in 2000-01, averaging 31.1 points on 25.5 shot attempts per game, leading Philadelphia to the NBA Finals. Iverson faced the Los Angeles Lakers and their dynamic duo of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.

The 76ers legend pulled off an impressive heist, scoring 48 points to steal Game 1 at the Staples Center. Los Angeles gentlemen swept their opponent, but Iverson's legendary performance is remembered in history.

Acuff is talented, but his scoring prowess hasn't been enough to lift Sacramento to its first win of the season.

The roster is imbalanced, leaning heavily into offense and leaving little room for defense. Injuries have also afflicted the team; multiple frontcourt players are sidelined for the next week.

It will be a long, tumultuous season for the Kings. Acuff's high-scoring nights are a bright spot for the organization and fans to look forward to, but the wins aren't coming in bunches.

General manager Scott Perry window to build a competent team around his young star is next offseason. Perry can free up to $40 million in cap space to attract free agents to Sacramento.

The Kings are still looking for their first win, and Acuff can make that a reality in Saturday's game against fellow rookie Cameron Boozer and the Memphis Grizzlies.