The Sacramento Kings didn’t overthink this one. With the seventh pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, they took Darius Acuff Jr., the Arkansas guard who dropped 20-plus points like it was nothing last season. And nobody was more visibly pumped about it than John Calipari.
Calipari, who coached Acuff at Arkansas, practically jumped out of his seat when the pick was announced. SportsCenter caught the moment on camera — Coach Cal clapping, grinning, looking like a proud dad at a Little League game. The clip went viral in minutes.
The pick made sense for Sacramento on a bunch of levels. Russell Westbrook is 37 and clearly winding down. He missed time last season with nagging injuries, and the Kings had to plug in Devin Carter and Malik Monk just to stay afloat at point guard. Then Monk’s name popped up in trade rumors around December. So the need was real.
What Acuff Brings to the Table
Kendrick Perkins, who’s been loud about Acuff all year, broke it down on ESPN’s pre-draft show. He called Acuff a three-level scorer with NBA-ready skills right now. The guy is 6-foot-2, can create his own shot off the bounce, and has a midrange game that already looks pro-level. Perkins also compared Acuff’s ability to slice through traffic to a snake — not the most flattering comparison visually, but you get the point. He sees lanes and attacks downhill without hesitation.
Perkins raved about Acuff’s vision too. Said he sees passes two steps ahead of most guards. That’s the kind of floor general the Kings have been missing since De’Aaron Fox left.
Context Sacramento Fans Are Feeling Right Now
There’s an edge to this pick that goes beyond stats. The Kings have been itching for relevance. They watched Mike Brown, their former coach, celebrate an NBA Finals win with the Knicks this year. They saw Fox lead the Spurs to the championship round. That stings. Acuff walks into a locker room hungry for a return to contention, and he might be the spark they need.
Acuff will likely get immediate minutes behind Westbrook, maybe even start by midseason if the old man’s body starts barking again. The Kings aren’t messing around with a rebuild — they want to compete now, and Acuff gives them a young, explosive option who can score and distribute.
One thing is certain: Calipari won’t be quiet about this kid anytime soon.
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