Kings GM Scott Perry: Why Darius Acuff Jr. was Sacramento’s main target

Sacramento Kings general manager Scott Perry believes the franchise found its point guard of the future in Darius Acuff Jr., and the organization never wavered in its belief that he was the right player to select with the seventh overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Appearing on Sactown Sports’ The Carmichael Dave & Jason Ross, Perry detailed why the Kings were so confident in selecting Darius Acuff after months of evaluation, pointing to his unique blend of scoring, playmaking and leadership.

Acuff is coming off a remarkable freshman season at Arkansas, averaging 23.5 points and 6.4 assists while shooting 44 percent from three-point range.

His breakout campaign earned him SEC Player of the Year, SEC Rookie of the Year and Consensus All-American honors, solidifying him as one of the top prospects in the draft.

PORTLAND, OREGON – MARCH 21: Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks looks on against the High Point Panthers during the second half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 21, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)

More on Kings PG Darius Acuff Jr.

The Kings had been connected to Acuff since the conclusion of March Madness, and he visited Sacramento for a private workout in the weeks leading up to the draft.

Perry also had a long-standing connection to the Acuff family, having coached Darius Acuff Sr. at Eastern Kentucky in the 1990s.

Perry said the Kings viewed Darius Acuff as the best fit among a talented class of guards.

“We were very high on Darius Acuff, the player, and the person,” Perry said. “We thought he was one of the top, if not the best point guard in this draft. Fortunately for us, it was a very deep draft with a number of good guards, but we really felt that Darius was the ideal fit for us because we thought he had the best combination of playmaking and ability to score.”

Beyond Acuff’s offensive production, Perry believes his ability to elevate his teammates set him apart from the rest of the class.

“This guy can make people around him better,” Perry said. “Shooting is always at a premium in this league, and he’s proven that he can shoot the basketball with the best of them.”

Perry also praised Acuff’s mentality, describing a player whose confidence and competitiveness stood out throughout the pre-draft process.

“The last thing I would say about him is his competitive drive,” Perry added. “When you’re around him, it’s very evident. He has an extreme quiet confidence, and I think that’s going to bode well for him and bode well for the Kings moving forward.”

Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks looks on during the first half against the Oklahoma Sooners in the quarterfinal game of the 2026 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 13, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

The familiarity between Perry and Acuff’s inner circle also played a role in making Sacramento an appealing destination.

Perry noted his relationship with Acuff’s father and longtime mentor Rashad Phillips, saying everyone involved understood the value of joining an organization where trust already existed.

With Sacramento entering the offseason without a point guard under contract, Perry believes the opportunity was ideal for Darius Acuff to step in immediately and begin establishing himself as the franchise’s long-term floor general.

“There is some familiarity for a young player coming into this league,” Perry said. “We didn’t have a point guard under contract, so it’s a great opportunity for him to come in here and establish himself, not only this year, but for seasons to come.”

Check out the full conversation with Sacramento Kings GM Scott Perry at the top of the page or by heading over to the Sactown Sports YouTube channel.

Listen to The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross from 6 – 10 a.m. PDT, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.

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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 Offseason Schedule

• 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

Sacramento Kings California Classic Schedule

Games played at Golden 1 Center

• Saturday, July 4th – vs. Brooklyn Nets (2 p.m. PT)
• Sunday, July 5th – vs. Golden State Warriors (2 p.m. PT)
• Monday, July 6th – vs. Milwaukee Bucks (7 p.m. PT)

2026 Sacramento Kings Las Vegas Summer League Schedule

• Thursday, July 9: vs. Los Angeles Clippers (8 p.m. PT)
• Sunday, July 12: vs. Washington Wizards (5 p.m. PT)
• Tuesday, July 14: vs. Brooklyn Nets (3 p.m. PT)
• Wednesday, July 15: vs. Boston Celtics (5 p.m. PT)
• Final game TBD

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