Sacramento’s rookie sensation could find his blueprint for NBA success in Malik Monk, a veteran playmaker ready to anchor the bench and mold the franchise’s future.
With the Sacramento Kings drafting Darius Acuff Jr. with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the team feels it has found the franchise's point guard of the future.
Alongside Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis, the Kings' offensive attack should be much more potent than last year, with more playmaking and shot creation.
However, with the departure of Devin Carter and pending situation around free agent point guard Russell Westbrook, Acuff's backup remains to be seen.
Malik Monk is one player who has shown improvements as a playmaker over the past few seasons, with General Manager Scott Perry suggesting the former Kentucky guard could transition to a full-time point guard role behind Acuff.
"I think Malik Monk has played it in the past. We've seen him do it a little bit," Perry said. "You know, Nique Clifford, we auditioned him a little bit toward the end of the year. You know, in today's game, you need multiple ball handlers on the floor who can just initiate offense. They may not all be "pure point guards", and I think Darius is showing you quickly that he's going to be able to be that."
On Wednesday, Sactown Sports' Chris Watkins talked about the similarities between the two John Calipari products, saying that Monk could be the "perfect mentor" for the reigning SEC Player of the Year.
Monk, a former lottery pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 2017, has become one of the most consistent bench scorers in the NBA, averaging 14.7 points per game across his four years in Sacramento.
But, last year was a bit of a down year for Monk, who averaged the least points (12.5) and assists (3.0) per game of his tenure.
Despite the slight dip, Monk has shown the ability to be a high-level playmaker over the past two seasons, averaging over five dimes per contest in each year.
Acuff, who is a similar type of scorer to Monk, is an even better playmaker, but could benefit from learning the ropes of NBA spacing and shot creation from one of the league's best bench scorers.
The two players could also play well off each other, as both can score from all 3-levels and thrive when attacking closeouts.
With the pending situation surrounding LaVine and his lucrative contract situation, Sacramento could be in big need of a standout year from Monk.
Monk also has a player option next offseason, which is worth north of $21 million.
While he would likely opt into the deal, he could improve his market value with a similar season to his 2024-2025 campaign.
