Nets projected to draft their own Jalen Brunson after Knicks' NBA Title run

The Knicks’ championship run is reshaping expectations around the city, and the Nets are already eyeing their own path to a title. Brooklyn is projected to draft Darius Acuff Jr. with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft, as ESPN analyst Jeremy Woo notes, just days after New York’s 94-90 Finals win over the Spurs secured their first title since 1973. Acuff, a 6-foot-2 guard at Arkansas, posted 23.5 points, 6.4 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game last season, while shooting 48.4% overall and 44% from three, earning SEC Player of the Year, All-American honors, and the Bob Cousy Award for top point guard. The pick challenges conventional size for lead guards, reflecting a Knicks-inspired belief that toughness and scoring ability can trump height. Brooklyn’s potential selection comes amid a broader draft discussion of undersized guards vs. bigger, multi‑position playmakers, with Acuff’s pro profile and production keeping him in the conversation for a top-10 pick on June 23. The broader context includes comparisons to recent undersized guards who led championship runs and the evolving guard landscape in today’s NBA.