Darius Acuff Jr. has a clear runway now. With Ben Simmons out after tearing his Achilles heel on Sunday, Sacramento’s seventh pick is set to slide back into the kind of role that made him such a dangerous offensive presence in the first place.
That shift matters because Acuff is now positioned to handle the ball the way he did before Simmons took over primary playmaking duties in the Kings’ preseason finale against the Spurs on Friday. In that game, Acuff spent more time away from his preferred on-ball control and finished with just 12 shots, his lowest total of the preseason and three fewer than his 15.6 average in the other three games.
Before the change, there was at least the possibility of an adjustment period beside Simmons. Now, Sacramento can put the 19-year-old back where he is most comfortable: as the engine.
And that engine has already been revving. Acuff led the SEC last season at Arkansas in scoring at 23.5 points per game and assists at 6.3 per game, a clean reminder of how much of the offense ran through him with the Razorbacks.
The same has been true in preseason, where he’s looked like the best rookie in the mix. He leads all rookies in scoring at 17.3 points per game and is shooting 42.1% from three.
His best showing came against the Golden State Warriors, when he poured in 25 points and added eight assists. That performance offered a preview of what Sacramento’s offense could look like over 82 games, especially now that the ball is back in his hands.
The numbers point to the ceiling being unusually high. Acuff could end up with the highest usage rate since the 2023-24 season, when Victor Wembanyama led the way at 32.2% for the San Antonio Spurs. Wembanyama averaged 21.4 points on 16.7 shots per game and shot 46.5% from the field.
At the same time, Sacramento will need more than Acuff dribbling into isolation after isolation. That’s the real test here. He’ll see that kind of defensive attention over and over, and the Kings need the offense to stay functional as he works through it.
The comparison around the top of the rookie class only adds to the spotlight. AJ Dybantsa is sharing the floor with Trae Young and Anthony Davis on the Washington Wizards, while Darryn Peterson has to split ball-handling duties with Keyonte George, whom the Utah Jazz extended last month. ESPN projected Washington and Utah to win 10 or more games than Sacramento.
Acuff’s path is different, and now it’s wide open. If he handles the burden with poise and stays consistent, the Kings may have a real Rookie of the Year case on their hands - and possibly their first since Tyreke Evans in the 2009-2010 season.
In Other News...
Ben Simmons Just Became A Huge New Problem For The Kings
Ben Simmons had barely settled in with Sacramento before the Kings were forced to confront a much bigger concern. According to ESPNs Shams Charania, Simmons may have suffered a torn Achilles tendon during practice, a devastating setback for a player the Kings were counting on to fill an important role after signing him recently.
For a team already sorting through injuries elsewhere on the roster, the timing is especially rough. Sacramento was hoping Simmons could bring size, playmaking and defensive versatility to a rotation that needed more depth, but now the Kings could be staring at a season in which they never get the chance to see how that fit was supposed to work. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Fans Already Have One Rookie Debate They Won't Ignore
The Kings came out of the 2026 NBA Draft with Darius Acuff Jr. as their seventh overall pick, and the early plan is straightforward: develop him as a rookie point guard while he grows alongside the rest of Sacramentos young core. It is the kind of long-view move that fits a team trying to build something sustainable, even if it means patience will be part of the equation from the start.
Then Yaxel Lendeborg showed up in a preseason game for Golden State and gave the early Rookie of the Year conversation a jolt, putting up 23 points, 10 rebounds and six assists as the 11th overall pick. For Kings fans already sizing up Acuff against the rest of this class, the comparison is hard to ignore, and it adds an extra layer to every early glimpse of Sacramentos newest guard. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Suddenly Have A Backcourt Decision Worth Watching
With Ben Simmons now sidelined, Sacramentos need for backcourt help has turned into one of the more interesting ripple effects of the roster deadline. The Kings have emerged as a possible trade partner for Memphis as the Grizzlies work to trim their roster to 15 players, and the timing gives Sacramento a chance to address a spot that suddenly looks more important than it did a few days ago.
Walter Clayton Jr. is at the center of the chatter, with Memphis reportedly trying to move the second-year guard before the deadline passes. For the Kings, the appeal is simple: add another ballhandler and give the rotation some insurance while the front office weighs how aggressive it wants to be with a move that could reshape the groups guard depth. [Read more 🡒]