--- title: "Stephen A. torches Nets for skipping Acuff Jr. in draft" description: "ESPN’s loudest voice says Brooklyn’s 2024 draft move was a blunder that could haunt the franchise for years." url: https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/stephen-a-sounds-off-on-nets-for-not-drafting-darius-acuff-0c3bd9ff published: 2026-06-30T22:45:16.837+00:00 updated: 2026-06-30T22:45:16.837+00:00 author: "Kostadin Stamboliev" publisher: "Pineido" site: "Sportopod" language: en topics: ["basketball"] --- # Stephen A. torches Nets for skipping Acuff Jr. in draft > ESPN’s loudest voice says Brooklyn’s 2024 draft move was a blunder that could haunt the franchise for years. Stephen A. Smith unloaded on the Brooklyn Nets for passing on University of Michigan guard Darius Acuff Jr. during the 2024 NBA Draft, calling the decision a major blunder that could shape the franchise’s future. Smith, who hosts ESPN’s First Take, argued on-air that the Nets squandered a chance to add a high-upside guard who could have bolstered their backcourt depth. His critique zeroed in on Brooklyn’s draft strategy, suggesting the team misread the league’s evolving positional demands. The outburst came as the Nets selected other guards in the second round, leaving Acuff Jr.—a consensus top-40 prospect—on the board. The Nets, coming off a 32-50 season, entered the draft with a clear need for playmaking and shooting. Acuff Jr. averaged 16.5 points and shot 37.6% from three during his junior year at Michigan, numbers that drew comparisons to NBA-ready combo guards. Brooklyn instead took guards with different profiles, a move Smith framed as shortsighted. In a segment that aired hours after the draft, Smith doubled down, telling viewers the Nets “don’t know what they’re doing” and that Acuff Jr. would thrive in any system. He stopped short of predicting a specific outcome but implied the franchise’s draft-day hesitation could cost them in the long run. The broader context of Brooklyn’s draft strategy reveals deeper concerns. The Nets’ front office has emphasized youth development and cap flexibility in recent years, but their second-round selections in 2024—guards with limited NBA experience and unproven efficiency—raised questions about their evaluation process. Acuff Jr.’s omission stands out because his profile aligns with the league’s shift toward positionless basketball, where versatility trumps traditional roles. Teams like the Orlando Magic and Indiana Pacers targeted similar guards in the late first and second rounds, underscoring Brooklyn’s deviation from the market. Smith’s critique also highlights a recurring theme in NBA draft analysis: the gap between perceived value and statistical projection. Acuff Jr.’s advanced metrics—such as his 58.5% true shooting percentage and 2.1 assist-to-turnover ratio—suggested he could contribute immediately, yet the Nets passed. His omission may reflect a front-office preference for players with higher physical upside or a specific system fit, but the lack of public justification leaves fans and analysts guessing. The Nets’ draft approach in 2024 reflects a broader organizational tension. While the team has prioritized cap space for future flexibility, the failure to land a guard with Acuff Jr.’s floor and ceiling risks prolonging the rebuild. His profile—elite college shooting, underrated playmaking, and defensive upside—mirrors the kind of players now thriving in modern NBA systems, from the Denver Nuggets to the Minnesota Timberwolves. By contrast, Brooklyn’s second-round picks leaned toward raw athleticism over polished production, a gamble that may not pay off if the league continues rewarding versatility. Another layer to this debate is the Nets’ recent history with guard development. Over the past three drafts, Brooklyn has whiffed on multiple backcourt prospects, including Day’Ron Sharpe (2022) and Noah Clowney (2023), both of whom were selected higher than Acuff Jr. would have been. The pattern suggests a systemic issue in player evaluation, where the front office’s risk tolerance doesn’t match the league’s current demands. With Acuff Jr. now an undrafted free agent, the Nets may face a reckoning if he signs elsewhere and outperforms their selections within a year. Reaction to Smith’s rant was immediate. Nets fans flooded social media with memes and hot takes, while analysts parsed whether Brooklyn’s front office had a method to its madness. The team has not publicly responded to the criticism, but the debate over Acuff Jr.’s omission dominated post-draft discussions. What's next: The Nets will enter free agency with a roster still in flux, and their draft decisions will face scrutiny until they prove otherwise. Acuff Jr., now a potential undrafted free agent, could become a focal point for teams seeking guard depth, while Brooklyn’s front office will need to address the growing skepticism around its player evaluation. The fallout from this draft miss extends beyond Brooklyn’s locker room. For the 2024 class, Acuff Jr.’s availability at pick 57—after teams with clearer guard needs passed—exposes a blind spot in scouting. His omission may force other franchises to rethink how they value late-blooming shooters in a league where three-and-D specialists now command premium minutes. The Nets’ hesitation could inadvertently accelerate Acuff Jr.’s development elsewhere, turning a draft-day oversight into a league-wide lesson on the cost of overvaluing physical tools over production. ## Why this matters Stephen A. Smith’s platform amplifies his draft critiques to millions of NBA fans, shaping narratives around team decisions. His attack on the Nets’ 2024 draft haul frames a single personnel move as a potential franchise misstep, fueling fan frustration and armchair GM debates. For Brooklyn, the scrutiny underscores the pressure to justify rebuilds under new leadership, while for Acuff Jr., the backlash to his omission keeps him in the conversation as a player who might outperform his draft slot elsewhere. The debate also exposes the tension between traditional scouting and modern analytics in evaluating guard prospects, a divide that could redefine how teams build competitive rosters in the coming years. ## Frequently asked ### Who is Darius Acuff Jr.? Darius Acuff Jr. is a 6-3 guard from the University of Michigan who averaged 16.5 points and shot 37.6% from three in his junior season. He entered the 2024 NBA Draft as a consensus top-40 prospect. ### Which team passed on Acuff Jr. in the 2024 NBA Draft? The Brooklyn Nets did not select Acuff Jr. during the 2024 NBA Draft, opting for other guards in the second round instead. ### What did Stephen A. Smith say about the Nets' draft decision? Smith called the Nets’ decision to pass on Acuff Jr. a major blunder, arguing the team missed a chance to add a high-upside guard who could help their backcourt long-term. ### How did the Nets perform in the 2023-24 season? The Brooklyn Nets finished the 2023-24 season with a 32-50 record, missing the playoffs for the second straight year. ### Did the Nets draft any guards in the 2024 NBA Draft? Yes, the Nets selected multiple guards in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, though none were Acuff Jr. ### How do Acuff Jr.’s stats compare to other guards drafted in 2024? Acuff Jr. posted a 58.5% true shooting percentage and a 2.1 assist-to-turnover ratio in his final college season, metrics that ranked among the best for guards in his draft class, many of whom were selected earlier. ## Sources & Citations - [Stephen A. sounds off on Nets for not drafting Darius Acuff Jr.](https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/49165696/stephen-sounds-nets-not-drafting-darius-acuff-jr) — ESPN (2026-06-24) --- Cite: Stephen A. torches Nets for skipping Acuff Jr. in draft. Sportopod, 2026-06-30. https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/stephen-a-sounds-off-on-nets-for-not-drafting-darius-acuff-0c3bd9ff