Isaiah Thomas on Darius Acuff Jr: ‘He’s a winner, he’s a leader’

Former Sacramento Kings guard and two-time NBA All-Star Isaiah Thomas has been one of Darius Acuff Jr.’s biggest supporters throughout the pre-draft process, and moments after Sacramento made the Arkansas star the 7th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Thomas made it clear just how highly he thinks of the new Kings guard.

Acuff is coming off a dominant freshman season at Arkansas in which he averaged 23.5 points and 6.4 assists while shooting 44 percent from beyond the arc.

His remarkable campaign earned him SEC Player of the Year, SEC Rookie of the Year, and Consensus All-American honors, cementing his place among the elite prospects in the draft class.

The 19-year-old guard’s memorable year led to Tuesday’s NBA Draft, where he heard his name called with the 7th overall pick, landing with the team he was most linked to throughout the pre-draft process–the Sacramento Kings.

“He’s a winner, he’s a leader…he’s my favorite player in the draft.” @isaiahthomas highlights the 7th pick of the 2026 NBA Draft, Darius Acuff Jr. on The Association. pic.twitter.com/Sijf3GE3iC

— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 24, 2026

More on Kings PG Darius Acuff Jr.

The connection between Darius Acuff Jr. and Sacramento had been building for months.

The Kings had been heavily linked to the guard since the conclusion of March Madness, and Acuff traveled to Sacramento last week for a private workout.

There was also an existing relationship between the Acuff family and Kings general manager Scott Perry, who coached Darius Acuff Sr. at Eastern Kentucky in the 1990s.

Following the selection, Thomas offered high praise for Acuff during NBA TV’s draft coverage, comparing the high-scoring guard to one of the most talented point guards of his era.

“He reminds me of a young Stephon Marbury,” Thomas said. “Not as athletic as Stephon Marbury was, but his power to the rim, he shoots at a high clip anywhere on the floor.”

Thomas believes Acuff’s impact extends beyond his scoring ability.

Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks shoots a free throw against the Arizona Wildcats during the first half in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at SAP Center on March 26, 2026 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

“He’s a winner, he’s a leader,” Thomas said. “Them guys followed him this year. Even though he’s a freshman, even though he’s not vocally speaking like that, his game plays at a high level to where you’ve got to follow that.”

In fact, the former Kings fan favorite didn’t hesitate when asked about where Acuff ranks among the draft’s point guards.

“He’s my favorite player in the draft, for sure. Favorite point guard,” Thomas said.

Thomas also revealed that he had an opportunity to meet Acuff and his family during the NBA Draft Combine and came away impressed with more than just the young guard’s talent.

“I met him at the combine,” Thomas said. “Great, great, great parents. His dad was like, ‘You’re one of his favorite players’. So that was dope.”

Now, the Kings are hoping the player Thomas considers his favorite prospect in the 2026 class will eventually become the face of the franchise for years to come.

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What is the next Sacramento Kings Offseason Event?

The Sacramento Kings will now set their sights on the California Classic, with action set to run from July 4th through July 6th at Golden 1 Center.

New Kings point guard Darius Acuff Jr. (7th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft) will go head-to-head against Brooklyn Nets guard Mikel Brown Jr. (6th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft) at 2 pm PT on July 4th, right here in downtown Sacramento.

Be sure to remain locked into Sactown Sports for your Sacramento Kings Summer League news, analysis, and much more!

Upcoming Sacramento Kings & NBA Offseason Schedule

• Wednesday, June 24th – NBA Draft (Round 2)
• Tuesday, June 30th – NBA Free Agency negotiation period begins (3 PM PT)
• Saturday, July 4th – Monday, July 6th – California Classic at Golden 1 Center
• Thursday, July 9th – NBA Las Vegas Summer League begins
• Monday, July 13th – Free Agency moratorium ends / signings can become official

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