Is Darius Acuff Jr. ‘Damian Lillard 2.0’?

Darius Acuff Jr. is already earning lofty comparisons after the Kings drafted him, with Bill Simmons calling the Arkansas star “Damian Lillard 2.0.”

The excitement surrounding Darius Acuff continues to build following the Sacramento Kings’ decision to select the Arkansas star with the 7th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

On his NBA Draft recap podcast, Simmons didn’t hesitate to call Sacramento one of the biggest winners of the draft while predicting a bright future for the dynamic guard.

“Winner, Darius Acuff going to Sacramento,” Simmons said on The Bill Simmons Podcast. “There’s a chance Acuff is just absolutely awesome on the Kings, and everyone in Sacramento is gonna be wearing Acuff jerseys. I’m all in. I have been all in, really, for the entire college basketball season. Absolutely loved him.”

“He’s the second coming of Dame.”@BillSimmons and @HousefromDC believe Darius Acuff Jr. will be absolutely awesome on the Kings. pic.twitter.com/HiN4KL7fI8

— The Ringer (@ringer) June 24, 2026

More on Darius Acuff Jr.

Darius Acuff Jr. arrives in Sacramento after a dominant freshman campaign at Arkansas, averaging 23.5 points and 6.4 assists while shooting an impressive 44 percent from beyond the arc.

His remarkable season earned SEC Player of the Year, SEC Rookie of the Year, and Consensus All-American honors, making him one of the most decorated prospects in the 2026 draft class.

The Kings had been heavily linked to Acuff throughout the pre-draft process. He worked out privately for Sacramento before the draft and already shared a connection with general manager Scott Perry, who previously coached Acuff’s father at Eastern Kentucky in the 1990s.

Simmons acknowledged Acuff isn’t a flawless prospect but believes his strengths far outweigh any concerns.

“He checks every box for me,” Simmons said. “It’s not perfect because he’s not gigantic; he might get picked on defensively. I just think the kid’s got it.”

While Simmons floated the possibility that Acuff could eventually reach Kyrie Irving’s level, podcast co-host Joe House offered an even bolder comparison.

“I have a different comp for him,” House said. “I really feel like he’s the second coming of [Damian Lillard]. I feel like he’s Dame 2.0.”

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)

Simmons immediately embraced the comparison, citing Acuff’s elite shooting as the primary reason.

“44% from three as a freshman in college,” Simmons said. “They weren’t easy threes, volume threes, they weren’t open threes… high-leverage threes.”

House believes those shot-making skills could eventually translate into superstar production at the NBA level.

“Could he be at 25 points a game? Like 25 and seven, has the ball a lot,” House said. “Maybe you need some extra offense next to him, but that would be what I see.”

Those are lofty expectations for any rookie, but they reflect the growing excitement surrounding Acuff’s arrival in Sacramento.

If his college production carries over to the NBA, the Kings may have found the franchise cornerstone they’ve been in desperate need of since trading away De’Aaron Fox last season.

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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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