Five Sacramento Kings got together on Saturday to get some run in, looking dominant in NBA Assistant Coach Rico Hines' open runs. Darius Acuff Jr. led the way.
The Sacramento Kings got a lot younger this offseason, bringing in three rookies who could battle for playing time right away.
No. 7 overall pick Darius Acuff Jr. will be handed the keys to the starting point guard role, while Emanuel Sharp and Alex Karaban will get run with the bench unit.
On Saturday morning, Philadelphia 76ers Assistant Coach Rico Hines hosted open runs flooded with NBA talent, and the Kings' team dominated.
These runs are held in high regard by NBA players, and have been going on for multiple offseasons.
Hines always preaches playing the right way and competing at a high level before each session.
Acuff, Karaban, and Sharp were joined by Dylan Cardwell and Nique Clifford, winning all three of their games in the video.
Acuff ran the show, playing at his own pace and getting whatever shot he wanted.
Early on, Acuff and Cardwell were heavily involved in pick-and-roll actions, with Cardwell getting easy looks at the rim because of his point guard's rim pressure.
But, Acuff's shot-making was notable, with the reigning SEC Player of the Year making jump shots from all over the court.
His mid-range shots were always on-balance, playing with pace and control in the in-between area.
It is exciting to think that he will have a talented offensive big man in Domantas Sabonis to play aside in two-man actions.
The other two rookies, Sharp and Karaban, each had moments of splendor as well.
Sharp was active off-the-ball, capitalizing on multiple 3-point opportunities.
His jump shot is quick, and he doesn't need much space to get it off.
Karaban also made an impact with his spacing, while also making intelligent cuts and slips on screens to get easy looks at the rim.
Early in the video, Karaban had a great boxout on NBA veteran big man Kevon Looney, securing the rebound, and outleting it to Acuff for an easy bucket.
These are the types of plays that may not be flashy, but are a staple of what Karaban can bring to the next level.
Clifford's play was also promising, as he may get run at point guard this upcoming season.
The second-year man out of Colorado State looked comfortable with the ball, making good reads and quick counters off the dribble.
With Russell Westbrook opting for retirement over a lessened role on the Kings, Clifford and veteran guard Malik Monk could be in line to handle the ball a lot more than years past.
While it wasn't in an NBA game, it is encouraging to see the Kings' young core playing together and looking effective against high-level competition.
Acuff's development continues to look like he will be one of the top rookies in the class.
