NBA Insider believes Darius Acuff Jr. can change the Kings’ culture

Darius Acuff Jr. may not have delivered the dominant NBA Summer League performance many Sacramento Kings fans hoped for, but one NBA insider believes the rookie guard is already showing signs of becoming the face of the franchise’s rebuild.

Speaking with Sactown Sports’ The Drive Guys, ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel discussed his exclusive interview with the Kings’ lottery pick and explained why Acuff’s mentality stood out more than any stat line.

“I think to me it’s just his mentality and the way that this young man carries himself,” Siegel said. “We’re talking about a 19-year-old that pretty much acts like a seasoned veteran in this league.”

Rather than chasing attention or building a personal brand, Siegel said Acuff is focused on one thing.

“He’s a guy that’s there and understands his role is to play basketball and his role is to win,” Siegel explained. “He’s a winner at heart, and he’s a guy that’s willing to sacrifice not only his personal stats but anything that it takes to make sure that he wins.”

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 15: Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Sacramento King poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at UNLV on July 15, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

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That mentality, according to Siegel, makes Sacramento the ideal landing spot.

“I do think that Sacramento as a city is the perfect place for him,” Siegel said. “He just wants to build something special.”

While Darius Acuff Jr. showed flashes in Las Vegas, averaging 19.0 points and 5.3 assists despite shooting just 36 percent from the field and 26 percent from three, Siegel said the rookie was already focused on correcting his mistakes instead of celebrating his production.

“The biggest thing that he kept saying was that he could be better,” Siegel said. “He’s always looking back on things that he could have done better.”

That self-evaluation extends beyond the court. Rather than studying other NBA stars he’s often compared to, Acuff keeps the focus on himself.

“One of the things that we talked about is the fact that he doesn’t watch other players on film,” Siegel said. “He’s only watching himself.”

The rookie has drawn comparisons to players like Jalen Brunson, Damian Lillard and Allen Iverson because of his size and scoring ability, but Siegel said Acuff ignores the outside noise.

Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Sacramento Kings drives against Seth Trimble #55 of the Washington Wizards in the third quarter of a 2026 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 12, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)

“He doesn’t care what all the people on TV are saying or what all the podcasters are saying about him because he knows what he’s capable of,” Siegel said.

Although the Kings enter the 2026-27 season with modest expectations, Siegel believes Acuff is part of a young foundation that could surprise people.

“I do think that they are going to be a little bit better than everybody is kind of giving them credit for right now,” he said.

For Kings fans, Darius Acuff’s Summer League numbers may have raised questions, but his mindset could ultimately be the biggest reason for optimism.

Listen to The Drive Guys from 2 – 6 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.

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What is the next Sacramento Kings Offseason Event?

The start of the 2026-27 season is quickly approaching for Darius Acuff Jr. and the Sacramento Kings.

Sacramento will begin training camp in late September as they prepare to begin preseason play on Monday, October 5th when they face Luka Doncic and the new-look Los Angeles Lakers at Golden 1 Center.

Be sure to stay tuned into Sactown Sports all offseason for roster updates, schedule announcements, analysis, and much more.

Upcoming Sacramento Kings Offseason Schedule

• August TBD – 2026-27 NBA Schedule release
• Late September – NBA training camps begin

Sacramento Kings 2026-27 Preseason Schedule

• Monday, October 5th vs. Los Angeles Lakers (7 P.M. PST)
• Thursday, October 8th @ Los Angeles Lakers (7:30 P.M. PST)
• Saturday, October 10th @ Golden State Warriors (5:30 P.M. PST)
• Tuesday, October 13th vs. Portland Trail Blazers (7:00 P.M. PST)
• Friday, October 16th @ San Antonio Spurs (7:00 P.M. PST)

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