Darius Acuff Jr. is accepting the role of being the Sacramento Kings’ point guard of the future.
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Speaking to Darius Acuff Jr., it’s easy to forget he’s 19, based on his interests.
One of his favorite rappers is Jadakiss, whose first album with The Lox was released in 1998 — eight years before Acuff was born. His favorite television show is “Martin,” which debuted in 1992. His two favorite movies are “All About the Benjamins” and “Paid in Full.” Both films were released in 2002.
It’s like talking to a child of the 1980s, not someone born in 2006.
The Detroit native is influenced most by a time before social media dictated discourse. His own social media accounts are sparsely used. He enjoys watching basketball games on YouTube, watching Allen Iverson highlights and enough 1990s basketball to where he reveres Michael Jordan over any modern players.
Acuff said he prefers a simple life — one of basketball, spending time with family and playing games of Uno. His approach to life leans more old-school than young and free. He’s observant and honors that path through for his affinity for culture from previous generations.
“Just the old-school principles people stand by,” Acuff said. “I’m always watching my surroundings, stuff like that. Just simple stuff like doing stuff that older people wouldn’t expect me to do.”
The Kings are hopeful the 6-foot-2 guard with an old soul can put the team’s fortunes in a time machine. They have missed the playoffs in 19 of the last 20 years. The last time they were postseason regulars, Jadakiss was breaking out as a solo artist.
Sacramento coveted Acuff, and the fanbase was hopeful teams picking fifth and sixth (LA Clippers, Brooklyn) would bypass the former Arkansas standout, and he’d be available at No. 7. It worked out, and the pairing appears to be a natural fit.
Acuff won the Bob Cousy Award for being the nation’s top point guard — the first freshman to win the award — and also was a consensus All-American. He was the SEC Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, and he led the conference in scoring and assists.
Sacramento isn’t one of the NBA’s bigger markets, which is fine with Acuff.
The nightlife isn’t that of Los Angeles or New York. During an off day at Las Vegas Summer League, he said he was happy to rest and that the night scene was of little interest to him.
His biggest disappointment early in Vegas? Missing the opportunity to meet comedian Martin Lawrence, the star of “Martin,” who performed last week in Las Vegas. His father met Lawrence and took a picture with him.
Beyond that, Acuff is fine listening to music and getting in a few games of Uno.
“I always said that my type of cities are just like that,” Acuff said. “There’s nothing to do, so you can’t do nothing but hoop and go home. That’s what you need if you’re trying to be great.
“I don’t like to be in the cities where there’s a lot going on. So, I’ve been blessed every year of my basketball career to just go somewhere where I can do it.”
Being locked in will be important. Acuff is Sacramento’s point guard of the future.
Kings general manager Scott Perry coached Acuff’s father at Eastern Kentucky in the 1990s, and the younger Acuff said Perry is “like family.”
“One thing that stands out about Darius: When he walks into a room, he believes he’s going to be the best player in that gym,” Perry said after drafting Acuff. “He has a very quiet confidence. Not an arrogance, but a very quiet confidence.”
Acuff said the reaction from Kings fans after he was drafted showed him Sacramento was where he’s meant to be. The Kings packed Golden 1 Center for the California Classic, a series of summer-league games before the Las Vegas Summer League. Acuff was amazed at how many fans showed up for a summer-league game.
The city’s mood, coupled with Perry and the connection he already feels with coach Doug Christie, has Acuff excited.
“I feel comfortable there,” Acuff said. “They’re comfortable with me. I’m comfortable with them. So, if you have that dynamic, it’s definitely gonna be great years to come.”
Acuff averaged 17.3 points and 5.3 assists in the Las Vegas Summer League. The Kings chose to rest him for the remainder of the summer after he finished with 26 points and five assists Tuesday against the Brooklyn Nets. He shot 36.5 percent and was critical of his own play while praising teammates who he believed contributed more.
Acuff credits his father for helping to instill a mature mindset to the game.
“I’ve always been that way, so I’m never changing that. It helps me to play better,” he said. “I’ve been like that no matter what type of game it is, even if it’s a practice. I’m watching, and I’m missing easy shots that I can make. I’m always gonna be a critic of myself. It helps me each and every game to never feel satisfied.”
The Kings aren’t the only brand Acuff is being asked to help jump-start. He has signed a shoe and apparel deal with Reebok, the brand Iverson and Shaquille O’Neal repped in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Acuff will have his own signature shoe (the Acuff 1) slated to be released during his rookie season.
In a full-circle moment of nostalgia, Jadakiss and Iverson teamed up for a memorable Reebok commercial in 2003.
“One thing that’s actually interesting about him is his influences, culturally and also on the court,” said Reebok’s head of basketball, Jide Osifeso. “He really studies … it makes you forget that he’s so young.”
The reverence for Iverson is obvious. A photo of Iverson and Acuff is one of his five Instagram posts. Meeting Iverson, Acuff said, was an honor.
“He just gave me advice, on basketball, on how to play and stuff,” Acuff said. “But he always showed love, too, for sure.”
Acuff said he’s excited to be a part of Reebok’s plan to re-establish itself as a force in the sneaker world. He’s equally excited about his NBA career.
His old soul should make him easy to work with.
“I can’t wait to get it started in two months with the whole team,” Acuff said. “It’s gonna be great to build a connection with new teammates.”
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Jason Jones is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering Culture. Previously, he spent 16 years at the Sacramento Bee, covering the Sacramento Kings and Oakland Raiders. He’s a proud Southern California native and a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley. You can follow Jason on X @mr_jasonjones.
