The new era of the Sacramento Kings is officially here.
The Kings selected Darius Acuff Jr. out of Arkansas with the No. 7 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Sacramento entered the draft with a major hole to fill at the point guard position. It was a point of emphasis the team wanted to address this draft season. But now, they've found their guy.
Acuff, 19, has a heavy weight on his shoulders as all eyes are looking towards him to be the cornerstone piece that helps lead Sacramento to winning basketball. Those are high expectations for the 2025-26 consensus First Team All-America selection, but his game compliments those expectations.
The Kings finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 22-60 record. They failed to make the playoffs for a third-consecutive season. However, the Kings draft selection of Acuff gives them hopes of a bright future to build upon with their 2025 draft class of Maxime Raynaud, Nique Clifford acquired in a draft day trade and undrafted signee Dylan Cardwell.
Grading the Sacramento Kings first round draft pick
Here's how USA TODAY Sports grades the Sacramento Kings' first round draft selection:
- The grade: A
- Why?: A is for Acuff. It's the first letter of the alphabet. Acuff is the Kings' first-round pick. A also stands for alpha, and that's what Sacramento is getting in Acuff. The Arkansas freshman standout was the frontrunner for the Razorbacks leading them to an Elite Eight appearance in a season where he averaged 23.5 points, 6.4 assists on 48.4% field goal shooting, including 44% on 3-point shots. He's that type of guy, a point guard who can be a 1A and can lead the Kings' offense for Doug Christie.
Sacramento Kings' draft selections in last decade
Here's a list of the Kings draft selections in the last 10 years.
- 2026: Darius Acuff Jr.
- 2025: Maxime Raynaud
- 2024: Devin Carter, Jamal Shead (traded to TOR)
- 2023: Olivier-Maxence Prosper (traded to DAL), Jordan Walsh (traded to BOS)
- 2022: Keegan Murray, Jaden Hardy (traded to DAL)
- 2021: Davion Mitchell, Neemias Queta
- 2020: Tyrese Haliburton, Xavier Tillman (traded to MEM), Jahmi'us Ramsey, Kenyon Martin Jr. (traded to HOU)
- 2019: Justin James, Ignas Brazdeikis (traded to NYK), Vanja Marinković
- 2018: Marvin Bagley, Gary Trent (traded to POR)
- 2017: De'Aaron Fox, Zach Collins (traded to POR), Frank Mason
- 2016: Marqueese Chriss (traded to PHX), Isaiah Cousins
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Sacramento Kings score big with Darius Acuff Jr. in 2026 NBA Draft
