Don’t underestimate the impact of Kings’ rookie Darius Acuff Jr.

Writer Ian Goodwillie argues that fans and critics should not underestimate Sacramento Kings rookie Darius Acuff Jr. despite the team's poor 1-6 start to the season. Selected seventh overall in the 2026 NBA draft by Scott Perry, Acuff has quickly emerged as a foundational piece and leads all NBA rookies in points per game, assists per game, and made three-pointers per game.

Goodwillie stresses that Sacramento must carefully manage Acuff's long-term development to ensure the franchise's rebuild succeeds. The writer argues the Kings need to acquire a capable backup point guard to prevent Acuff from playing excessive minutes, while also building chemistry between him and younger teammates like Nique Clifford and Alex Karaban.