Darius Acuff Jr is putting up historic numbers for a rookie, but the strain of the loss is already starting to wear on him, according to The ESPN story. The The necklaces are off to a 1-10 start after Tuesday’s loss at Orlando despite Acuff’s 29 points and six assists, and he was asked after the game how the frequent losses affected him.
“a lot,” – he answered. “I’m not a loser, so it’s not fun. But like I said, it’s an 82-game season, so hopefully there’s something left.”
The No. 7 pick out of Arkansas has been one of the few bright spots for a franchise that appears headed for another miserable season. He is currently ninth in the NBA scoring race, averaging 26.2 points per game along with 7.3 assists, and his 288 points in 11 games are the most by a rookie since then. Michael Jordan in 1984. But it wasn’t enough to save the Kings, who have a three-way tie for the league’s worst record.
“I don’t know what to do” – said Akuf. “I feel like we’re trying — everybody as a whole. We’re just not going to come away with a win. 1-10 just doesn’t sound right.”
There are more from Sacramento:
- coach Doug Christie The decision to focus on their veterans in an attempt to save their jobs played a role in the trade with Nick Clifford in Oklahoma City, according to team sources Sam Amick of The Athletic. Christie, who is in the final guaranteed season of his contract, has used Zach Lavin and Malik Monk ahead of Clifford, who logged just 50 minutes in eight games before the deal. Amick claims management was concerned Clifford’s trade value could drop further if he wasn’t in the rotation by Feb. 11, so the decision was made to move him now. Amick suggests that Christie’s inability to develop Clifford, who was a first-round pick last year, will be one of the factors that will be considered when the team evaluates his future.
- ESPN’s Zach Crum gives the Kings a C- grade for the Clifford deal, noting that he was inexplicably buried on the bench after being the best player on the roster last season. The Thunder get a B for using two of their 21 second-round picks to fill a need caused by early-season injury problems. Christie offered his take on the deal, calling Clifford “a great professional” (Link to video on Twitter by James Hamm of Kings Beat).
- Keegan Murray came off the bench for the second straight game on Tuesday, but Christie said it was only a temporary arrangement while he returned from capsulitis of the left ankle joint (video link by Sactown Sports).
