Kings’ Golden Ticket: Acuff’s Quiet Rise | Sacramento Kings News

The Sacramento Kings may have finally found their franchise cornerstone with the seventh pick in the 2026 NBA Draft—Darius Acuff Jr., a 19-year-old guard from Arkansas who averaged 23.5 points and 6.4 assists while winning SEC Player of the Year. Quiet, focused, and built like a winner, Acuff brings an old-school work ethic that mirrors Kawhi Leonard, exactly what the Kings need to rebuild culture and compete. Raised with his dad in the gym since age four, Acuff sees this draft as fulfilling a family dream and is ready to shoulder the pressure. GM Scott Perry calls him the perfect fit—not just for his stats, but his relentless drive to win. Acuff himself is confident, saying he’s a winner and plans to bring that mindset to Sacramento. With a new era dawning, Acuff is poised to lead the charge toward playoff glory. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/7ee2171a139cc31a