Kings’ Acuff Jr. Predicted To Make All-Rookie 1st Team

Another set of heavy expectations has fallen on Darius Acuff Jr.'s shoulders ahead of his rookie season for the Sacramento Kings.

SleeperHoops (@Sleeper_Hoops) predicted the first-year players who will make the All-Rookie First Team next season: Acuff, Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, Cam Boozer and Aday Mara.

Acuff making the First Team suggests he would become the best rookie point guard, besting his peers Mikel Brown Jr. and Kingston Flemings. He's the best fit to become a franchise player in a rebuilding season, while the others are on teams attempting to compete for the playoffs.

Sacramento will prioritize his development by giving him the ball and playing him high minutes, exactly what he did for the Arkansas Razorbacks last season. It paves the path to becoming the team's No. 1 option while general manager Scott Perry searches the trade market to continue building around Acuff.

ESPN predicted the 19-year-old has the best chances of winning the Rookie of the Year award outside the top-four picks. Next season's race could be exciting with Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer, Acuff and Caleb Wilson all gunning for recognition as the best rookie.

Sacramento sports radio hosts Matt George and Carmichael Dave each believe the seventh overall pick should average more points than De'Aaron Fox and Jalen Brunson did in their early years.

George said Acuff should "smash" Fox's rookie numbers and could threaten his second-year averages. Fox averaged 11.6 points in his first season and ballooned to 17.3 in his second.

Dave thinks the rookie can best Brunson's scoring average from the 2021-22 season, his last year as a Dallas Maverick. He averaged 16.3 points on 50.2% overall shooting.

Acuff has the talent to exceed George and Dave's expectations, evidenced by leading the SEC in points (23.5) and posting a career-high 49 points in a double-overtime loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide on Feb. 18.

His efficiency is an area he needs to improve in, as he struggled to adjust to physical NBA defenses throughout summer league. He admitted the defense sped him up in his first game, which was uncomfortable, as he always played at his own pace in college.

Acuff put together some abysmal shooting performances: 9-for-29 in the California Classic opener, 7-for-19 against the Milwaukee Bucks, 6-for-20 in the Las Vegas Summer League opener and 4-for-14 against the Washington Wizards. That totals 31.8% overall.

An 82-game regular season will allow him to iron out the wrinkles in his game and bring his college success into the NBA.