The NBA Preseason continued on Friday, October 10, with seven games showcasing a range of talent from the 2026 rookie class. While preseason performances do not always predict regular season success, seeing young players excel against established NBA competition is encouraging.

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Here are the top five rookie performances from the eighth night of preseason action:

Darius Acuff Jr., Sacramento Kings, the No. 7 pick, led all scorers with 25 points, contributing eight assists, four rebounds, and four turnovers while shooting 8-of-15 from the field, including 4-of-6 from three-point range and a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line in 27 minutes against the Golden State Warriors.

Nimari Burnett, an undrafted free agent for the Toronto Raptors, added 10 points, one rebound, one turnover, and one steal in 16 minutes against the Los Angeles Clippers, shooting 4-of-6 from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc.

AJ Dybantsa, the top pick in the 2026 Draft with the Washington Wizards, tallied 14 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 23 minutes against Detroit, shooting 4-of-10 from the floor, although he struggled from three-point range at 0-of-2 and managed 6-of-10 at the free throw line.

Yaxel Lendeborg, selected as the No. 11 pick by the Warriors, scored 23 points, secured 10 rebounds, and recorded six assists in 24 minutes against the Kings, shooting 10-of-14 from the field, 1-of-3 from three-point territory, and making both free throw attempts.

Baba Miller, the No. 36 pick for the LA Clippers, finished with 10 points, four rebounds, two steals, and one block in 16 minutes against the Raptors, shooting 3-of-7 overall, 1-of-1 from deep, and 3-of-4 from the line.

Ebuka Okorie, selected as the No. 17 pick for the Detroit Pistons, led his team with 14 points, adding six assists, one rebound, three turnovers, and one steal in 27 minutes against Washington. He shot 6-of-15 from the field but missed all four of his three-point attempts.

Tarris Reed Jr., the No. 26 pick for the San Antonio Spurs, scored 10 points with six rebounds, three turnovers, and one steal in just nine minutes against Phoenix, making all four of his field goal attempts and both free throws.

Lastly, Ian Schieffelin, an undrafted free agent for the Miami Heat, contributed 10 points and seven rebounds in 23 minutes against Minnesota, shooting 4-of-5 from the field and 2-of-3 from three-point range.