The Sacramento Kings are clearly trying to look and play like a different team, and Darius Acuff Jr.’s early preseason run is giving that makeover some real momentum.
Acuff, widely viewed as Sacramento’s lead guard of the future, has opened the NBA preseason with a strong showing. In Saturday’s 111-106 win over the Golden State Warriors, he put up a game-high 25 points. Efficiency has been something to watch through his first few appearances as a King, but this one came with some pop: he went 8 for 15 from the field and hit 4 of 6 from 3-point range.
After the game, Acuff was asked about the identity Sacramento is trying to build.
"Being tough," Acuff said. "Trying to focus more on the defensive end as a team.
We got a lot of length. We got a lot of good athletic [players].
And just playing fast as a team, we want that to be our identity."
That kind of answer fits the direction the Kings have taken this offseason. The roster is going to look different, with returning players coming back from injury and the backcourt getting a major overhaul. The front office’s additions through the draft and free agency have pointed toward the same goal: a tougher team.
Acuff’s ability to play downhill and push the pace should help Sacramento get into offense quicker and create better looks, especially after last season’s scoring problems showed up at times. But the defensive piece matters just as much, because the Kings have already taken heat for the imbalance on the roster.
The Athletic’s Michael Pina went so far as to call it "one of the worst defenses ever assembled" in his recent projections.
Sacramento’s rookie class is part of the fix. Emanuel Sharp and Alex Karaban are both regarded as strong perimeter defenders, and both came into the league with reputations for doing real work on that end at Houston and UConn, respectively. That sort of edge could pay off early in their NBA careers.
Longtime play-by-play voice Mark Jones also had praise for Sharp’s defense in late September on SacTown Sports. He pointed to Sharp’s pressure at Houston and in Summer League, and joked that opposing teams will need a "restraining order to keep him off people defensively."
With signs pointing toward Simmons having a major role this season, Doug Christie will need to lean on him to bring high-level defense. The Kings have made their intentions pretty clear: faster, tougher, and far more committed on that end of the floor.
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Clifford has looked more aggressive with the ball, getting into his offense earlier and doing more than just hunting points. His shot volume, passing, and work on the defensive end have all pointed to a player trying to round out his game as he heads deeper into his sophomore season, and the next step is turning that activity into more consistent production from the perimeter. [Read more 🡒]
Ben Simmons Is Giving The Kings A Real Lineup Test
Ben Simmons is back in the mix for Sacramento, and the Kings are already using the preseason to figure out what his presence means for their lineup. After a long absence, Simmons returned to game action and logged nine minutes in an exhibition against Golden State, a small sample but an important one for a team trying to see how his versatility fits with a younger roster. Sacramento has been willing to experiment, and this is the kind of trial that can shape more than just a rotation spot.
The real test comes in how the Kings pair him with rookie Darius Acuff Jr., with the idea being to simplify Acuffs job while also seeing whether Simmons can handle the demands of a larger role again. It is a balancing act between spacing, functionality and confidence, and it leaves Sacramento with a familiar early-season question: how much can a lineup gain from Simmons if it has to be built around what he can still give, not just what he once was? [Read more 🡒]
Ben Simmons Gave Kings Fans A Different Reason To Watch His Debut
Ben Simmons first run back in the NBA with the Kings was always going to draw attention, and the preseason setting made it feel even more measured. Sacramento eased him in carefully because of his injury history and the time he has spent away from the league, giving fans a first look at what he can still bring without asking for too much too soon.
The game also offered a different kind of snapshot of Simmons, one that had less to do with his stat line and more to do with his presence. When Maxime Raynaud went down with a right patella injury, Simmons stayed nearby and offered support, a small but noticeable moment in a night that otherwise centered on his long-awaited return. [Read more 🡒]