The Kings are still stuck without a win to start the 2026-27 season, but Darius Acuff Jr. has given them something to feel good about anyway.
In Sacramento’s 123-113 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, the rookie guard kept stacking up points and moved past Jason Williams on the franchise’s rookie scoring list. Acuff’s 22-point night gave him 67 points through his first three games, which puts him third all-time for a Kings rookie after three games.
Only Maurice Stokes and Oscar Robertson have opened their Sacramento careers with more, at 75 and 72 points, respectively. Williams now sits fourth with 56.
The No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft arrived after one season at Arkansas, where his stock climbed enough to make him a clear lottery talent by draft time.
Acuff’s first three games have shown both the promise and the rough edges. He’s averaging 22.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals, while shooting 30 percent from the field, 11.1 percent from 3-point range and 76.5 percent at the line. The efficiency numbers jump off the page, but the production is real.
Against Memphis, he played 36 minutes and finished with 22 points on 9-of-23 shooting, including 2-of-9 from deep and 2-of-2 at the free-throw line. He added three rebounds, seven assists and one blocked shot, while turning it over just once.
The shot-making still needs work, but the Kings already seem to have a real cornerstone taking shape.
In Other News...
Keegan Murray Is Caught In A Kings Problem That Keeps Growing
Keegan Murrays early-season fit has been complicated by more than just the usual opening-night rust. Between a preseason spent on limited minutes and the lingering effects of returning from injury, Murray has had to find his rhythm while the Kings keep adjusting the pieces around him. The result has been a start that has not looked as clean or settled as Sacramento would like from one of its key young forwards.
The bigger issue is the one the Kings seem to keep running into: a rotation that has not stayed still long enough for anyone to really settle into a role. Murrays spot has felt especially fluid amid those changes, and the uncertainty has shown up in his on-court consistency. For a team trying to build continuity, his situation has become another reminder that Sacramento still has some sorting out to do. [Read more 🡒]
Sabonis Is Doing Something Historic For The Kings Already
Domantas Sabonis has wasted no time putting his imprint on Sacramentos season, piling up rebounds at a pace the league has never seen in the post-merger era. Through the first three games, he has grabbed 52 boards to break Moses Malones old mark of 49, while also setting the tone as the Kings most important offensive connector. Even in an early stretch marked by losses, Sabonis has been doing the kind of work that keeps Sacramento organized and dangerous.
What makes the start even more notable is that the big mans production has not been limited to the glass. He is leading the league in rebounds per game and in assists for the Kings, and he has done it while showing improved shooting percentages from last season. For a team still looking to turn effort into results, Sabonis has already been everything the Kings could ask for, and maybe a little more. [Read more 🡒]
Zach LaVine Just Exposed An Early Kings Problem
After an 0-3 start, the early frustration around Sacramento has already gone beyond missed shots and defensive miscues. Zach LaVines comments pointed to a bigger issue inside the locker room: a team still trying to settle in, with the acclimation process not yet giving the Kings a clear sense of direction from the front office, the coaching staff or the veterans expected to steady things.
The larger concern is whether the pieces Sacramento has invested in are actually being used in a way that matches the plan. There has been a noticeable disconnect between draft capital and in-game decisions, including limited run for recent first-round picks, and LaVines point about veteran leadership only sharpened the conversation. In his view, teams need a voice and a structure to lean on, and right now the Kings are still searching for both. [Read more 🡒]