Three NBA Players Making Surprising Statements Early This Season

Monday’s 43-point outburst vaulted Dallas’ Cooper Flagg into a tie with Sacramento’s Darius Acuff Jr. for 11th in the NBA in scoring, tops among non-veterans.

Fueled lately by peanut butter and jelly sandwiches intended to help fill out his frame, Flagg was primed for a breakout no matter his diet. Such is (projected) life for a No. 1 overall draft pick, as Flagg was last year.

Ditto for Acuff, taken seventh overall by the Kings in June.

Does that make Memphis’ Ty Jerome, selected 24th by Philadelphia in 2019 and now with his fifth franchise, a most unlikely breaker-outer? Possibly.

Here’s a look at Jerome and other breakout performers at the one-eighth pole of the season.

Ty Jerome

Respective injuries to his right calf, left thigh, left shoulder and left ankle limited Jerome to just 15 games in his Grizzlies debut a season ago.

He contributed when he could, averaging 19.7 points per game, then a career high in a journey marred by ankle surgery that cut his 2023-24 campaign with Cleveland to two games.

If Jerome keeps this dazzling start intact, he’ll surpass that personal best again by good measure. After going for 27 points, including five 3-pointers, in Monday’s win at Toronto, Jerome is averaging 26.7 points, eighth in the league.

He’s amped up his resilience, as well. After back tightness kept him out of an Oct. 31 game against Sacramento, Jerome erupted for 40 points in a narrow loss to New Orleans two nights later.

“Everyone does a great job of staying ready, keeping a positive attitude, and that’s going to be big for us over the course of 82,” Jerome said.

Darius Acuff Jr.

Sacramento is winless at Golden 1 Center in five tries this season, a trend it will try to snap as Orlando visits tonight.

Acuff has treated Kings fans to a show at any rate. He’s averaging 25.9 points and 7.4 assists and boasts two double-doubles in the past three games.

The latest came Sunday, when Acuff delivered 32 points and 10 assists in a loss to Miami.

“I think it’s been commendable just in terms of his confidence, his aggressiveness, and obviously his skill set speaks for itself,” said San Antonio Spurs coach Mitch Johnson, whose club saw Acuff go for 22 points and eight assists Friday. “And I think time is just on his side and the best thing for him. As long as he continues to work how he has to get here and continues to progress, he’ll be just fine.”

Cooper Flagg

PBJ&s may add bulk to the 6-foot-9, 205-pound Flagg, but only time can accelerate the other figure in his bio -- age.

“It’s unbelievable,” Mavericks coach Dusty May said. “He’s a 19-year-old doing this?”

Of course, May was coaching a stable of young pups at Michigan then, but he or anyone easily could have substituted “18-year-old” in that observation last season.

Flagg averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists over 70 games to earn Rookie of the Year plaudits in 2025-26. So much for a sophomore slump; his averages are up in each category through 10 games, with a notable surge in assists (6.9) and one additional steal per contest compared to last season.

“We keep calling him a teenager, but he plays way beyond his years,” teammate Kyrie Irving said.

Flagg’s menu may be another story, but in the name of scoring – and winning -- it’s whatever works.