Kings Rookie PG Darius Acuff Drawing Praise After Preseason Debut

Although it was an ugly loss for the Sacramento Kings in their preseason opener, multiple young talents looked comfortable and poised alongside their veteran counterparts.

Rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr., the team's top selection from this year's draft, looked the part as the playmaker and shot creator he was lauded as at Arkansas.

Acuff scored 19 points on 8-of-17 shooting, while adding four assists, a steal, and a block.

He looked extremely confident on the offensive end, playing at his own pace, and getting downhill at a high success rate.

Following the game, Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Quentin Grimes praised Acuff, while saying that he doesn't play like a rookie.

"Just his poise. He don’t really get speed up, kinda picks his spots…" Grimes said. "Definitely a good sight to see for that team. Definitely didn't seem like he was a rookie at all in his first preseason game."

Acuff's level of maturity and focus has been a big talking point throughout the offseason, with people around the team talking about his work ethic and drive being one of his best attributes.

Head coach Doug Christie was asked about what he liked from Acuff in his fist preseason game, where he said "His poise is at a really high level, and he’s not ducking the smoke. He’s not scared. He is about his business."

While it is only preseason, Acuff did show a good level of energy on the defensive end, while his steal and block show engagement.

Defense is a big area of need for Acuff and the team overall, as he, Zach LaVine, and Domantas Sabonis are all offensively-focused.

With the Razorbacks, Acuff led the SEC in both points (23.5) and assists (6.4) per game, while helping Arkansas to the program's first conference title in 26 seasons.

He frequently took over games with his scoring and playmaking, while serving as head coach John Calipari's offensive initiator.

Calipari has been extremely supportive of his latest NBA guard talent, predicting Acuff averages a minimum of 18 points and eight assists as a rookie.

If he can bring those stats to light and contribute to a turnaround season for Sacramento in the win column, Acuff should be in the running for Rookie of the Year and give the front office a clear picture of their future.

In today's NBA, finding a high-octane offensive guard has led to championships, with Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and New York's Jalen Brunson being the latest examples.

If Sacramento hopes to return to relevance within the loaded Western Conference, Acuff will need to anchor the team.

The Kings match back up with the Lakers on Thursday at 10:30 p.m.