Nevermind, I think I figured it out now.

Adam,

Are the leaves newer growth?

Not sure why but late season growth sometimes pops only on branch ends. Next Spring it should leaf out normally.

Thanks for the quick response =)
Yes it is new growth on some of them. It is just growing a little different than my other jap maples so I was not sure if it was normal to grow this way.
I have had to cut alot of dead ends of some of the branches, they just turn gray and I can snap them off, the tree seems overall okay, I was assuming since it is newly planted this year it will be alright.