Darius Acuff Jr. didn’t need long to figure out which matchup has given him the biggest problem in his young NBA career.
The Sacramento Kings rookie point guard said Thursday on The Road Trippin’ Show that Luka Dončić is the toughest player he has had to defend so far, and he didn’t dress it up.
“It’s a no brainer Luka [Dončić], he had 40,” Acuff said. “I tell you the truth, it’s not easy to go out there and be like, 'I can guard him.' I can definitely tell you that.”
That answer came with good reason. Sacramento lost 116-103 to Dončić’s Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 4, and the NBA’s leading scorer put up 40 points on 11-for-23 shooting. He also added 11 points at the free-throw line, continuing to live at the stripe at nearly 12 attempts per game.
For Acuff and the Kings’ defense, the challenge was less about one stop and more about trying to keep Dončić from setting the terms of the game. He controlled the pace, and once that happens, it becomes a long night for everybody on the other side.
Acuff, Emanuel Sharp, De’Andre Hunter, and several other Sacramento defenders took turns trying to slow him down. The box score, though, told the same story Acuff felt on the floor.
“When you look at the stat sheet... it say 38,” Acuff said. “So it’s like, you know? He be going crazy I ain’t going to lie.”
Even in defeat, Acuff kept producing. He led Sacramento with 22 points and 12 assists in the 13-point loss, though the shooting line was rough: 8-for-24 from the field.
Still, there’s been real progress in his scoring efficiency. This was the only game in his last seven appearances in which he shot below 45% from the field, a sign that his numbers have been trending the right way.
The playmaking has started to come along too. Acuff, the former Arkansas standout, has spoken about the game slowing down for him and the reads becoming clearer as he settles in.
Sacramento returns to the floor Friday night against the Portland Trail Blazers, with a chance to respond to an eight-point loss earlier in the year. Acuff will be looking to get going early against a weaker defensive backcourt in Ja Morant and Damian Lillard.
In Other News...
Kings Still Searching For A Backcourt Answer Fans Know Well
The Kings are still working to shore up the backcourt, and Gabe Vincent has emerged as a familiar name in that search. Sacramento has a standing contract offer out to the veteran guard and recently brought him in to meet with team officials, a sign the front office is still looking for a reliable answer behind rookie Darius Acuff Jr. With an open roster spot available, the fit is obvious on paper: a seasoned guard who can steady the second unit and give the Kings some insurance in a thin area.
Vincent also comes with a connection that makes the pursuit feel less like a cold free-agent chase and more like a reunion. He has prior experience with the organization through its G League affiliate, which gives Sacramento some baseline familiarity as it tries to fill out the guard rotation. The interest is clear, but the roster picture is still waiting on the final step, and for now the Kings are left searching for the veteran backup they believe can fit into the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Brutal Start Just Made The Next Nine Games Feel Worse
The early hole has only deepened for Sacramento, and the next stretch on the schedule does not offer much relief. With just one win in 11 tries, the Kings are staring at a run of nine straight games against opponents with better records, which makes every misstep feel heavier and every small sign of progress harder to bank.
Roster changes have already started to follow the rough start, including the trade of Nique Clifford and the addition of Mason Plumlee, but the bigger question is whether those moves can steady anything in time to matter. For a team already trying to stop the bleeding, the coming week looks less like a chance to reset and more like another test of how much more losing this group can absorb. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Teardown Talk Now Hinges On One Untouchable Rookie
Sacramentos season has already shifted into a different phase, and the front office is acting like it knows it. The Kings have made one trade so far, sending Nique Clifford to the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the broader message from around the league is that virtually everyone else on the roster can be discussed if the right deal comes along. For a team trying to reset its direction, that kind of openness usually means the focus has moved from patching holes to rethinking the whole structure.
At the center of it all is rookie Darius Acuff Jr., who has quickly become the one player Sacramento appears unwilling to move. Sam Amick reported the Kings are open to talks on everyone except Acuff Jr., whose early production has given the franchise a clear reason to build around him. That leaves veterans like Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, Malik Monk and De'Andre Hunter as the names to watch, with the real question now being how far the Kings are willing to go in reshaping the roster around their young guard. [Read more 🡒]