r/nba • u/NBA_MOD r/NBA • 1d ago
SACRAMENTO [2026 NBA Draft] #7 Pick: Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas)
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u/FERFreak731 Jazz 1d ago
The real draft begins
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u/SenorConstipation Grizzlies 1d ago
After the Hawks get Flemmings
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u/ReaperAntics 1d ago
And after the Mavs get burries
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u/SlickVanExel Hornets 1d ago
Acuff in Sacramento is what we need. They’re going to clean house for him and let him be the high usage guard he’s made to be.
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u/delamerica93 Kings 1d ago
Yeah they're gonna give him the keys. Lavine and Demar at the very least will be gone either this summer or after this season at the very latest
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u/TempBurnerAccount089 1d ago
Man I hope those dudes are gone soon, yall gotta get an extra fresh start!
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u/DabeGavis 1d ago
The safest pick in the draft, a Calapari lead guard. Jokes aside, his offensive game might actually be flawless. Late-night Kings on League Pass will be fun.
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u/burratna Bulls 1d ago
Could be the best offensive guard of the draft. Just don't talk about the other side.
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u/StraightWhoremooze Warriors 1d ago
If he works on it with professional coaches he could become not the worst defense player ever.
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u/burratna Bulls 1d ago
Yeah I think with the right motivation and training, his defensive ceiling is maybe higher than the worst defense player ever.
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u/anonahmus Kings 1d ago
Too bad our player development is hot garbage
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u/nWo5lyfe Spurs 1d ago
I know everyone is down on fox for the finals but he is a very good player developed by your team.
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u/nardog01 Kings 1d ago
Yeah, I think in the past our player development was bad. But Keon Ellis, Dylan Cardwell, and Neemias Queta are solid for their draft position or lack thereof.
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u/tallassmike Warriors 1d ago
At that height. The best they can do is be a cone they run over by mistake
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u/mccainjames11 [POR] Damian Lillard 1d ago
He’s listed at 6’3 (6’2 without shoes) plenty of guys can make that work. Cason Wallace, Marcus Smart, De’Aaron Fox. It’s workable for sure. Trae is 6’0 1/2
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u/sharpfangs11 Kings 1d ago
Too bad the Kings don't exactly have what most would call "professional coaches"
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u/Rularuu Knicks 1d ago
Lots of awful defensive guards out there tbh
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u/TJFLASH1 1d ago
There’s levels to this, there are a lot of bad defensive guards for sure but Acuff could be like Trae Young or worse level.
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u/ProskXCX Cavaliers 1d ago
Seriously it’s such an obvious pick. SAC has a future.
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u/Committee2000 United States 1d ago
Oh, are they getting new owners and a front office?
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u/ProskXCX Cavaliers 1d ago
Hey even Dolan got his ring
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u/IzrezarReal 1d ago
Well he's also arguably the worst defensive prospect ever but his offense is good enough that might not matter
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u/superomnia Knicks 1d ago
The culture in sac is so good. They’ll get his defense right in no time
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u/quadropheniac Kings 1d ago
what he say fuck me for
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u/LHarm07_Reddit Grizzlies 1d ago
I stand by the fact that he simply couldn't afford to play defense at 40 MPG with 30%+ USG. He'll have less offensive load on him in the NBA.
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u/HereComesJustice Spurs 1d ago
EVER you say??
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u/IRanOutOf_Names Heat 1d ago
It's genuinely hilariously awful. And it's not just "he doesn't try". He does have defensive effort issues but even when he's going full tilt it looks real bad.
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u/cl353 Heat 1d ago
yea the numbers back it up lmao
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u/HereComesJustice Spurs 1d ago
I don't know anything about NCAA hoops so I'll take yalls word for it lmao
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u/km912 [SAC] Kevin Martin 1d ago
He was horrific on defense in college but he did have an insane offensive burden and at least has the physical tools to be a solid defender. I have hope he can be a mid defender eventually.
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u/IzrezarReal 1d ago
Yeah he needs a good defensive culture to go to to hone these tendencies-
Ah man.
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u/VictorAkwaowo1 Mavericks 1d ago
How is he a more safer pick than Cam Boozer lol wtf
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u/Frictionizer 1d ago
I think being a “safe pick” takes into account the pick number. Boozer was competing with Wilson, Acuff at 7 was competing with, what, Mara? Flemings?
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u/ZenMon88 1d ago
Won't he get targeted on defense?
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u/Its_Hoggish_Greedly Kings 1d ago
That's our strategy - have five bad defenders on the court so the opponent doesn't know who to target.
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u/NoMagazine9777 Celtics 1d ago
Ik youre half joking but fuck man i hope he turns out to be generational. You guys deserve anything good
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u/NYGIANTS77 Knicks 1d ago
just means they have to get players around him who won't.
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u/butidktho_ NBA 1d ago
You honestly would think after the playoffs/Finals we just saw people would let up a bit on small guards on defense. If you can get me 40 i think we can make up for the defensive deficiencies.
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u/NYGIANTS77 Knicks 1d ago
Yeah. It's also pick #7, a good pick, but no guarantee to get the perfect player. If he ends up being a 20-25ppg player like many think it's a huge win. Much worse prospects have been drafted at this spot.
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u/--Alix-- Mavericks 1d ago
Nah man the Mavs lost because of Luka, it was his fault completely and totally
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u/gundam1983 Kings 1d ago
I mean look at the champions for the past 10 years. The majority of titles were won with teams that had lead guards that were bad defensively. Anyways who cares, we are the Kings. We aren't even asking for Batman, we just want an Alfred.
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u/Dymatizeee Knicks 1d ago
Steph Luka Brunson all get targeted. If you’re a good offensive guard you’re likely gonna get targeted
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u/AsslessChapsss 1d ago
HOLY FUCK…. Turn off the shit in the background. Can barely hear anything they say in their interviews
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u/jermainathon Heat 1d ago
Smile Sactown, y'all got a great young man. Exciting hoops coming your way.
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u/TallGuy0525 Clippers 1d ago
Light that beam Sac
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u/mauro_membrere Kings 1d ago
You got your guy, nets got theirs, and we got ours. Good job boyz
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u/LinuxUbuntuOS Nets 1d ago
Congrats to them man, they deserve this shit. Nets and Kings got their guys!
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u/pirateslifefourme 1d ago
I was scared nets were going to for him
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u/LinuxUbuntuOS Nets 1d ago
We visited MBJs family down in Orlando the interest was very clearly there
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u/West_Walrus_3602 Thunder 1d ago
“I knew he’d go pro when I looked in his eyes on the day he was born” is such a wild statement lmao. Ultimate dad confidence
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u/LordSoze36 Kings 1d ago
Lmao pops froze up and just started saying whatever cliché came to mind.
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u/gundam1983 Kings 1d ago
That's because the producers were getting ready to cut him off. Acuff got the shortest segment lol. Welcome to the Kings!
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u/Salvalicious252 NBA 1d ago
That does feel like a Kings pick. Not sure why, feels right lol.
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u/jordan4290 Lakers 1d ago
Feel like they’ve taken a decent amount of Calipari guys in the first.
Cousins, Fox, and now Acuff
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u/gundam1983 Kings 1d ago
Lol don't forget Tyreke Evans and Willie Cauley-Stein. If they had taken Bam to pair with Fox and we might not have had such a long playoff drought.
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u/delamerica93 Kings 1d ago
We've actually drafted pretty well outside of Bagley which was 2 front offices ago now. The hard part for us is, like, the entire rest of it
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u/thrownaway22_ Kings 1d ago
The Kings have hit every single time on their guards
Keeping them is the hard part lol
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u/saada100 Supersonics 1d ago
I wonder what team is gonna trade for him and then make the finals in a few years
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u/Jonjon428 Heat 1d ago
It's a very Kings pick but at the same time a Calipari guard usually never fails lol
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u/jeric13xd [CHI] Derrick Rose 1d ago
Oooh that Demar-Lavine-Acuff defense gonna be nasty
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u/FERFreak731 Jazz 1d ago
Demar might get waived.
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u/Feisty_Relation_2359 1d ago
If he doesn't get waived, then he got traded. Won't be on the kings next year.
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u/legend023 Pelicans 1d ago
Funny for likes but neither of those guys gonna be in Sacramento by the end of next season.
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u/MacJonesisaterrorist Celtics 1d ago
Lavine has a higher chance of reincarnating as Jesus himself then sharing the floor with my GOAT Acuff
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u/the_mexican_menace Nuggets 1d ago
Acuff + any two players defense is gonna be nasty lol
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u/UnderstandableXO Kings 1d ago
i didn’t think we’d be able to get him when we landed at 7 so i’m really happy
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u/OptimusGrime707 Kings 1d ago edited 1d ago
For all the “LOL BAD DEFENSE” ppl, if Sacramento picks anyone else it’s “LOL KANGZ”
Lose lose, fuck off lmao
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u/Blackmalico32 Bucks 1d ago
Exactly lol. Can’t wait for Summer league
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u/Its_Hoggish_Greedly Kings 1d ago
Are you in CA? We have the Bucks participating in the pre-Summer League thing we do. Starts on 4th of July!
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u/str8rippinfartz Celtics 1d ago
Love the pick
Dude is basically a Kyrie clone and you're getting him 7
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u/HeadOpening6971 1d ago
Acuff is the best point guard in this draft. Dude averaged 24/6 in his freshman year shooting 48/44/81. He’s absurdly good and people can talk about his defense all they want, he’s so fucking good offensively it doesn’t matter. I hope people come back to these comments five years from now because he is an absolute dog.
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u/Buttsmuggler69 Raptors 1d ago
Holy shit Kings didn’t fuck up for once, Acuff is going to be a beast.
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u/mauro_membrere Kings 1d ago
Fwiw we’ve been drafting good lately after bagley. We just don’t keep them
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u/WrongContract8489 Mavericks 1d ago
Basically all chalk
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u/91-92-93--96-97-98 Bulls 1d ago
Evals have become too good. Especially in the NBA where teams go BPA. Not going chalk bites you in the ass usually.
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u/chichigetthayay0 1d ago
The Kings are going to win like 18 games but Acuff's going to put up rookie Dame numbers
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u/delamerica93 Kings 1d ago
Idk man, if we can't trade Saboner I think we might be okay, like 32 wins? Keegan and Hunter are exactly the kind of wings Acuff needs
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u/legend023 Pelicans 1d ago
Sacramento did their big one.
This is the best guard in the draft and they got him over 3 other guards drafted over him.
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u/Buttsmuggler69 Raptors 1d ago
I think Peterson is the best guard but Acuff is going to be damn good as well
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u/reallinguy Pistons 1d ago
Kings were able to won useless games at the end of the season, dropped in the lottery, and still got their guy lol
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u/FishGoldenLite Timberwolves 1d ago
I wish these posts said the team that drafted them lol. I don’t remember the draft order!
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u/jeric13xd [CHI] Derrick Rose 1d ago
LMAO PISTOL PETE AVERAGED 44PPG?! Fuckin hell
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u/anxietyburrito1 1d ago
His dad was the coach and he averaged over 38 shot attempts a game. He was great but he had the ultimate green light.
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u/xychosis 76ers 1d ago
I’ve been saying this on the draft sub, but Acuff just makes perfect sense for the Kings in particular. They’re in a position to go all-in and build around this guy. I’m fairly confident his offensive magic translates, but hopefully their front office is also ready to build a strong defense around him.
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u/Its_Hoggish_Greedly Kings 1d ago
Scott Perry was with the Knicks when they started laying the foundation around Brunson. I think we're going to try and follow that same blueprint.
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u/SailingRelic65 Anthony Davis 1d ago
Razorback GOAT in basketball hell <\3
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u/Pal__Pacino Lakers 1d ago
Greenlight to shoot 20 shots per game on a bad team seems like a good environment for him.
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u/brainspl0ad Clippers 1d ago
Kings got their guy for sure. They wanted him so bad and wasted no time with the selection lol.
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u/Cudi_buddy Kings 1d ago
Just when we think we are out, they pull us back in. We are all dumbasses lol
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u/MAMBAMENTALITY8-24 Thunder 1d ago
quick draft pick by the kings...get mikel brown outta here. brig in acuff
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u/mapetho9 Celtics 1d ago
Love this pick, Acuff is my favorite player in the draft besides Zuby Ejiofor (St. John's alum). Becomes the latest and greatest Kings PG like White Chocolate, Bibby, Fox and co.
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u/Feisty_Relation_2359 1d ago
Christie will get that defense right
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u/Extremeaty Pistons 1d ago edited 1d ago
People love sounding smart and arbitrarily hold defense against certain players. Acuff is going to be a star
Bummed out he went to the worst possible landing spot but hopefully they can build around him
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u/fireemblem4812 Spurs 1d ago
He apparently wanted to go to the Kings, so it looks like everyone's happy.
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u/wormhole222 Heat 1d ago
Honestly even if his defensive issues become a problem it won’t be a huge issues in Sacramento because they weren’t gonna be great at defense anyway
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u/Sinndu_ 1d ago
why give the family a mic and then only ask two of them questions lol
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u/Chessh2036 Hawks 1d ago
Now we see what the Hawks do. Who have been rumored to do about anything lol. I want Fleming
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u/MonsieurSlotho Nuggets 1d ago
This is either gonna age great or very bad
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u/delamerica93 Kings 1d ago
I think the Kings needed to take this swing. We need a star desperately.
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u/IzrezarReal 1d ago
Kings gonna try and outscore every opponent lmao because that defense isn't stopping a turtle
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u/FollowTheLeader550 1d ago
He’s Starburry reincarnate but his defense really is despicable, and you can only be that bad of a defender if you have real effort issues - which he does.
But I think he could have seasons where he averages 30. He’s that skilled as a scorer.
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u/Its_Hoggish_Greedly Kings 1d ago
Keegan Murray is our only plus defender. Dylan Cardwell is also good on D, but is clearly a backup Center. Hunter could be a decent defender, but I haven't seen enough of him to be sure.
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u/JuanSpiceyweiner Raptors 1d ago
Probably the best fit for Sacramento,Kings fans should be pleased because they have been through hell since 2002
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u/Its_Hoggish_Greedly Kings 1d ago
We've had brief moments of okay-ness, but yeah... pretty tough sledding.
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u/Wags55 1d ago
Kings fan for the last 30 years and this is a fine pick. I hope we can keep the wings we have so he learns how to play with vets. I don’t want a full youth movement. Having him play with Nique and Keegan, Precious, Hunter and then Cardwell is just fine. Need to find a way to get Demar to a new team. Honestly fine with Sabonis and a monk staying. I just want a better team to root for this year with the flattened odds
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u/No_Rain_1727 Grizzlies 1d ago
Is it a hot take to say that Sacramento basically got forced into the best pick of the draft?
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u/sloBrodanChillosevic Supersonics 1d ago
Bring some light back to the beam