The Kings are still betting big on Darius Acuff Jr. as the guard who can steer their future, and that belief got another boost this week from an unlikely place: Andre Miller.
Sacramento has already made its stance clear. Even with the rough edges that came out during NBA Summer League, the front office and coaching staff have been talking about the rookie point guard like a long-term centerpiece. That confidence only grew after the Kings used the No. 7 overall pick on the SEC Player of the Year.
On Thursday, longtime play-by-play voice Mark Jones, now set to call Kings games, joined the Sac Town Sports radio show and offered a peek at what he has heard around the team. His read on Acuff was simple: "He's fun to watch," Jones said about Acuff.
Jones then passed along a stronger endorsement from Miller, the veteran point guard who spent part of the 2014-2015 season with Sacramento and now coaches the Grand Rapids Gold in the G-League. According to Jones, Miller was so impressed that he went to head coach Doug Christie and told him "he can really go."
That kind of praise matters because Miller built a reputation in the league as a smart, steady evaluator of talent. And Acuff has already given people plenty to talk about.
Last season at Arkansas, he was one of the most dangerous offensive players in the country, putting up 23.5 points and 6.4 assists per game while helping lead the Razorbacks to an SEC Championship. John Calipari was just as bullish in June when he appeared on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, saying, "18 [points] and 8 [assists] minimum," Calipari said.
For Sacramento, that kind of production would fit the need perfectly. The Kings backcourt is looking for shot creation and playmaking, and Acuff brings both. He has shown he can take over games, and that’s exactly why so many around him keep talking about him like a future engine for the offense.
One of his loudest college performances came against Texas, when he piled up 28 points and 13 assists. Sean Miller was so struck by that night that he didn’t hold back.
"In my time -- and I'll just go 34 years -- I've never seen a point guard better," Miller said. "People talk about who's going to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft or who's the best player in the conference. ...
This No. 1 pick thing, I don't know why people aren't talking about him more. I can't imagine anybody better."
Acuff has also flashed that scoring punch in pro settings, with a 25-point outing against the Brooklyn Nets in the California Classic standing as his best professional scoring performance so far. The efficiency wasn’t there in that game, though, as he went 9-of-29 from the field.
Even so, his passing has been a steady strength. Jones pointed to that on Thursday, saying he was especially impressed by Acuff’s ability to hit teammates with precise passes in different situations.
It may take time for Sacramento to sort out the full fit in the starting lineup, but Acuff’s offensive range gives the Kings something they clearly value: a guard who can create, score, and keep the ball moving.
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Names like RJ Barrett and Fred VanVleet are already circulating as possible targets, which tells you the Kings could be looking for both upside and fit. Barretts status is tied to De'Andre Hunters future with the organization, while VanVleet would make sense as a backup point guard who could steady the position and help mentor a rookie, leaving Sacramento with a few different paths to sort through before the market opens up. [Read more 🡒]