Through two preseason games, Sacramento has already seen two very different versions of Darius Acuff.
The rookie point guard opened his NBA run with a solid showing against the Lakers, then followed it with a much shakier night in the rematch. That kind of uneven start is normal for a young guard, but the Kings also know they have to help him find some stability if he’s going to grow into the role they drafted him for.
Sacramento used the 2026 draft to bring in a new point guard, taking Acuff with the seventh overall pick as part of a rebuild plan in a tight salary-cap situation. The idea was straightforward: add a rookie they could develop, then let him grow with the rest of the group. So far, Acuff has given them reasons to believe that choice was a good one.
His first preseason appearance came in the Kings’ opener against the Lakers, a game Sacramento lost badly. Even so, Acuff handled himself well.
In 27+ minutes, he finished with 19 points, two rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block. For a rookie going up against Luka Doncic, that was a promising start.
Game two brought a different story. Sacramento lost to the Lakers again, though this one was much closer, and Acuff looked less comfortable throughout the night. His minutes dropped, and the stat line reflected the tougher outing: 12 points, one assist, two steals, and one block.
The biggest concern has been the shot. Acuff went from eight of 17 from the field, good for 47.1%, to four of 15, which worked out to 26.7%.
A heavier three-point load played into that dip, with his attempts rising from four to seven. He did make one more from deep, moving from one made three to two, but the overall efficiency clearly slipped.
The passing numbers are just as important, and maybe more so. Four assists in the first game wasn’t enough for a player Sacramento wants running the offense, and dropping to one assist in game two makes that part of his line stand out even more. The Kings need him to become an offensive hub, not just a scorer.
There is at least one obvious factor here: Domantas Sabonis did not play in the second Lakers game. Acuff and Sabonis already seem to have real chemistry, and that connection is starting to look like something the Kings can build on. Without Sabonis on the floor, Acuff lost the partner he has already started to click with.
That only makes the next step more important. If Sacramento wants Acuff to develop the way it hopes, the Kings have to help him get through nights like this. And with no certainty about how long Sabonis will remain in Sacramento, Acuff has to keep building with everyone else too, especially the other rookies and sophomores who are supposed to be part of the foundation with him.
In Other News...
Kings Already Face A Ben Simmons Problem They Can't Ignore
Ben Simmons arrived in Sacramento carrying the sort of baggage that makes every offseason addition feel a little more complicated than the last. The Kings took the gamble anyway, betting that a fresh setting could help a player whose injury history and broader career detours have made him one of the leagues most scrutinized names. For a team trying to stay relevant in a loaded Western Conference, the appeal is obvious enough: if Simmons can give them even a slice of his old value, he changes the look of the roster.
The problem is that the expectations around him are already moving faster than the Kings likely want. Some around the league are talking about Simmons as if he is ready to reclaim an elite level immediately, which only sharpens the pressure on a player who has yet to play a game for Sacramento. The Kings would prefer a slower ramp-up and a more careful return, with an eye on both his physical condition and where he is mentally after so much time under the microscope. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Fans Have Heard This Story Before And Its Concerning Again
The Kings are back in familiar territory this fall, with another round of questions about the mood inside the building before the games even start counting. At a preseason dinner, owner Vivek Ranadive addressed the team, and the message quickly became a point of debate after NBA insider Zach Lowe described it as a roast that took aim at players and staff. For a franchise that has spent plenty of time trying to project stability, even the conversation around a dinner speech can feel larger than it should.
Scott Perry pushed back on that framing, saying the speech was meant to motivate and inspire the group rather than tear it down. Still, the public disagreement has only added to the sense that not everything is perfectly settled behind the scenes, especially with Kings insider James Ham pointing to ongoing internal issues connected to why some players have missed preseason action. The details there remain unconfirmed, but it is another reminder that Sacramento is once again trying to keep the focus on basketball while the off-court noise lingers in the background. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Head To Golden State With Two Big Roles Suddenly In Focus
Sacramentos preseason has opened with back-to-back losses to the Lakers, and the quick turnaround to Golden State offers the Kings a chance to see where some of their new pieces fit before the games start counting. The early focus has been less about the final scores and more about the roster mix, with rookie Emanuel Sharp also expected to get a look as Sacramento tries to sharpen its three-point shooting.
The bigger spotlight is on the frontcourt rotation and the questions it raises for the starting group. DeAndre Hunter is being pushed by Precious Achiuwa, while Ben Simmons is part of the same conversation as the Kings sort through a competition that could shape how they open the regular season. Sacramento still has plenty to learn in preseason, but this trip to Golden State should offer a better sense of which combinations the staff trusts most. [Read more 🡒]