The Kings’ record is ugly, but one part of the offense has started to show real life: the 3-point shot.
Sacramento is 1-10 and off to its worst start since opening 1-13 in the 1990-91 NBA season, yet the perimeter numbers have moved in a better direction over the last six games. That’s a notable shift for a team that finished the 2025-26 season dead last in the league in 3-point attempts and makes, while tying for last in 3-point percentage at 34 percent.
The early returns in 2026-27 weren’t much better. Through the first five games, the Kings were still stuck in the same neighborhood, with their attempts only slightly up and their shooting sitting at 30 percent. But on “Deuce’s Deep Dives,” NBC Sports California’s Deuce Mason pointed to rookie guard Darius Acuff as the biggest reason the offense has opened up.
“The way the season started this year, it wasn’t much better,” Mason said. “The attempts were slightly up, but they were shooting at a 30-percent clip over the first five games.
So what has changed? Darius Acuff.
Darius Acuff’s shooting has really opened things up for Sacramento’s offense. He is shooting 41 percent from downtown on nearly 10 attempts over the last six games.
“And what do you know? Attempts across the board during that stretch are way up.
Sacramento is shooting over 37 3-point attempts per game, and they’re shooting at a 38-percent clip over the last six games. That’s huge.”
Acuff’s first five games were rough from an efficiency standpoint. He shot 37.8 percent from the field and made just 22.2 percent of his 3-point tries, while taking nine threes per game.
Since then, the rookie has settled in. Over his last six games, Acuff is averaging 28 points and 7.8 assists while shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 41.4 percent from deep on 9.7 attempts per game.
That growth has done more than boost his own line. It has changed the way defenses have to play Sacramento, and Mason said the ripple effect is showing up for the rest of the roster.
“It’s not just Acuff’s shooting that is helping change things for the Sacramento Kings,” Mason added. “It’s his ability to manipulate the defense and set up others.
His assists are up, and some of the teammates with him, they’re knocking down shots. We’re seeing increased playing time for Leaky Black.
He’s over 40 percent during that span. Same with the other rookie, Emanuel Sharp, who’s shooting at over a 40 percent clip as well during that span.”
The Kings are still buried near the bottom of the standings, but Mason said the recent jump in shot volume and accuracy is at least a step in the right direction.
“Six games of good shooting doesn’t mean the shooting woes have been figured out ... but taking more threes and making them at an efficient clip, that is progress,” Mason said. “And hopefully, it’s one thing that they can build on and check off their to-do list.”
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