Darius Acuff Jr. hasn’t been in the league long enough to let anything slow his competitive edge. The Sacramento Kings rookie guard is still settling into the NBA, but the message around him is already clear: the Kings are giving him room to grow, and he’s attacking that responsibility with force.
That showed up again Wednesday, when Acuff appeared on SiriusXM NBA Radio and was asked about working out with players from his draft class. He shut the idea down fast, saying there’s "no point" in trying to fraternize with his opponents.
That kind of response fits everything Acuff has shown so far. The No. 7 overall pick has made his approach to the game part of his identity, and it’s one of the traits that drew Sacramento general manager Scott Perry to him during the pre-draft process. Perry has said Acuff’s most impressive quality is how much he loves the game, and at Kings Media Day, he described the rookie as someone with a rare drive to be great.
On the floor, Acuff’s early production has been as eye-catching as advertised. Through four games, he’s averaging 21.5 points and 4.8 assists, though the efficiency has lagged behind the raw numbers. Even so, he has already flashed the scoring punch and playmaking that made him such a high pick.
His start included a rough debut, when he shot 5-for-24 from the field. Then came the rebound: a 33-point performance against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Before he played his first home game in front of the Sac Town faithful, Acuff delivered a public promise to the fan base.
"We're gonna compete, we're gonna work hard every game," Acuff said. "And we're going to play for y'all."
That game turned into a record night. His performance was the highest single-game scoring output by a teenager in Kings franchise history, and it gave him the first 30-point outing of his class.
Afterward, Acuff stayed locked on the same theme. He praised the night, but made it plain that individual numbers are not the point.
"It was good, but it don't matter," Acuff said. "We lost. Nothing I want more than to win, so everything I do is fine, but if we don't get the win, it really don't matter."
Through the opening four games, the Kings look like they’re headed for another rebuilding season. But this time, the franchise has a clear name at the center of it.
Acuff is already showing why Sacramento believes he can be the face of what comes next - even if the next step is learning how to turn those flashes into more than offense alone. Heading into Thursday’s matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans, he continues to check the right boxes with his focus.
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The Kings are now left to absorb the loss of a player they had hoped could stabilize their backcourt and add experience to a roster built for the new season. Simmons plans to continue his rehabilitation in Sacramento, which at least keeps him around the team environment as he begins the long process of recovery and leaves open the question of what comes next once he gets through it. [Read more 🡒]