Malik Monk didn’t need long to explain why Darius Acuff Jr. feels familiar.
When NBC Sports California’s Deuce Mason and Morgan Ragan asked Monk what he had seen from the Kings’ rookie, his answer came fast and plain: “Me,” Monk said succinctly. “Yeah, a little bit of me.”
That’s not about personality. Acuff comes off as more reserved, while Monk has always carried a louder, more outgoing energy. The resemblance Monk sees is built on the floor - in the way Acuff moves, the way he carries himself, and the way he attacks the game.
“How he moves, how he carries himself, I see me a lot in him...” Monk explained.
“... On the court, I see a lot of similarities to me especially when I was in high school coming up.”
Acuff is just two years removed from high school, which makes Monk’s comparison land a little differently. The rookie is also only 19, set to begin his first NBA season with Sacramento in the same way Monk did with the Charlotte Hornets.
The Kings are bringing Acuff along as their highest overall pick since Keegan Murray went No. 4 in the 2022 NBA Draft, so the spotlight is going to be heavy from the start. He arrives after one season at Arkansas, where he put up 23.5 points per game and showed the kind of scoring punch that made him a lottery pick.
Monk sees a lot of that same bucket-getting instinct in Acuff, along with the work habits that matter just as much.
“I definitely approach the game like that,” Monk said when asked about Acuff’s obsession over the game. “Always in the gym... and he’s doing the same thing. I can’t wait to see him play.”
That setup could make for a dangerous backcourt in Sacramento. Acuff is expected to start right away, while Monk is likely to be the first guard off the bench. However it’s arranged, the Kings believe they have an explosive pairing on their hands.
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The Mavericks have also begun making decisions of their own, requesting waivers on Jorge Diaz Graham shortly after his preseason appearance. For Sacramento, moves like Muokas are less about immediate headlines than about creating competition, filling out camp, and giving the front office another look before the roster picture starts to narrow in earnest. [Read more 🡒]
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What makes the game worth revisiting is less the result than the way it sharpened the rotation conversation. Several Kings players were unavailable because of injury or other reasons, so the minutes were spread around and the team still showed real strength on the offensive glass. For a group trying to sort out roles in the preseason, those details can matter just as much as the final score, even if the record so far leaves plenty of room for concern. [Read more 🡒]
Former Kings Big Mans Brutal 2026 Just Got Even Worse
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The injury was serious enough that the Knicks waived him, and the road back is now a long one. There is no projected timeline for his return, and surgery plus rehab are expected to keep him out for the 2026-2027 season. For Sacramento, it serves as a reminder of how quickly a veteran big mans career can turn, especially when one injury can wipe away an entire year. [Read more 🡒]