The Sacramento Kings are putting a lot of faith in Darius Acuff Jr. to produce early and often in his rookie season. Is the 19-year-old up for the task?
The Sacramento Kings spent their top draft pick on Darius Acuff Jr., who they are hoping is the next lead guard of the future for the franchise.
Acuff, who was an electric player in his lone season with Arkansas, was evidently the Kings' top guard prospect at the No. 7 pick, with the team cashing in on draft night.
On Friday, Kings General Manager Scott Perry joined SacTown Sports' Radio to talk about the upcoming season and what he expects from his top pick.
Perry admitted that Acuff will have a lot on his shoulders as a rookie, but said that the franchise is willing to roll with the "bumps and bruises."
Acuff's on-court ability is impressive, but Perry said his most impressive attribute is how much he loves the game.
Perry said that Acuff has a drive to be great, and that has been evident in his comments since being drafted,
After receiving comparisons to NBA standouts like Jalen Brunson and Allen Iverson, Acuff shrugged off the compliments, saying he wants to carve out his own legacy and leave his own mark.
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.
For a Kings backcourt in desperate need of shot creation and playmaking, Acuff provides both, taking over games with his dual-threat abilities.
After a 28-point, 13-assist performance against the Longhorns, Acuff received high praise from Texas head coach Sean Miller.
"In my time -- and I'll just go 34 years -- I've never seen a point guard better," Miller said. "People talk about who's going to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft or who's the best player in the conference. ... This No. 1 pick thing, I don't know why people aren't talking about him more. I can't imagine anybody better."
Acuff displayed some of the bumps and bruises that Perry referred too in the NBA Summer League, struggling with efficiency and forcing shots at times.
But, this is not uncommon for high-octane guards making the transition to the next level, as they find their footing with the change in game speed and shot quality.
With talented offensive players like Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine healthy, Acuff will have no shortage of help on that end of the floor.
Getting Acuff to consistently buy in on the defense is the next step, as the team does have questions about that end of the floor.
But, for a Kings franchise that desperately needs a star presence to get excited about, Acuff's play style provides just that.
