The Sacramento Kings’ preseason opener comes with a clear spotlight: Darius Acuff.
Sacramento used the No. 7 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on the rookie point guard, and tonight’s game against the Lakers marks the first real step in the plan the Kings set in motion when they decided to build around a new floor general. After the departure of De'Aaron Fox, the point guard spot has been a problem area, and Acuff is now the player tasked with helping change that.
The Kings have had some encouraging draft success lately, and that’s part of why there’s so much attention on this group. In 2025, Maxime Raynaud’s rapid rise gave Sacramento a major win, and undrafted center Dylan Cardwell also climbed quickly. In 2026, general manager Scott Perry added Emanuel Sharp and Alex Karaban, two rookies who will need to make the most of their chances if they want to carve out roles this season.
Acuff, though, is the headliner.
The only real glimpse fans have had of him in a Kings uniform came during the California Classic and Summer League, but those settings didn’t exactly show the full picture. Most of the roster wasn’t there, including Maxime Raynaud, who was with the French national team. Tonight should tell a lot more.
The Lakers present a tougher bar, especially if Luka Doncic is on the floor. That would create a major early test for Acuff, with one of the league’s most anticipated rookie point guards lined up against one of the top point guards of all time. It’s the kind of matchup that can feel like a crash course in NBA reality.
Still, whatever happens tonight won’t settle anything on its own. It’s the first preseason game, not a verdict on Acuff’s season or his future. There’s a long way to go before 2026-2027 is over.
Even so, a strong first impression would matter. Acuff is expected to grow into this new-look Kings roster quickly, and if he can flash what he’s capable of against the Lakers, the league will notice.
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The Lakers came off their win over Sacramento only to look flat in a 124-98 loss to Golden State, and the result left JJ Redick with plenty to address even before accounting for the three key starters the team was missing. Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler were all out, but the absence of firepower did not fully explain how little resistance Los Angeles offered in the first half.
Redick made clear he expects more than an excuse-heavy response in the next stretch, especially from a group trying to stay steady through injuries and lineup changes. Sandro Mamukelashvili led the Lakers with 15 points, while Yaxel Lendeborg topped Golden State with 17, a reminder that the game was decided well before the final margin became official. [Read more 🡒]
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The concern is that the momentum of his early career has been slowed by a dip in shooting percentages since his rookie season and by the injuries that limited him to just 23 games last year. Sacramento does not need him to become a different player so much as it needs the version that can stay available and provide steady two-way value, because his health may end up shaping how far this group can go. [Read more 🡒]
Kings May Have Finally Found Hope At Point Guard
Darius Acuff got his first NBA start at point guard for the Kings and gave Sacramento a much-needed look at the position it has been trying to stabilize for years. Drafted seventh overall with the hope that he could grow into the starting job, Acuff showed why the organization was so intrigued, putting up 19 points with two rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block in a performance that offered plenty to build on.
There were still the expected rough edges, including some turnovers and shooting inefficiency, but the overall showing hinted at real long-term upside. For a team that has spent recent seasons searching for answers at point guard, Acuffs debut as a starter at least gave the Kings something they have not had there in a while: a reason to believe the position might finally be taking shape. [Read more 🡒]