Darius Acuff Jr. Says He's 'Not a Loser' amid Kings' 1-10 Start to NBA Season

Sacramento Kings rookie Darius Acuff Jr. is unhappy with how the team has performed amid a 1-10 start to the season.

Following the Kings' 107-100 loss to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, Acuff explained he's "not a loser," and their lack of success thus far is getting to him.

"A lot," Acuff said when asked how much of a toll the losses were taking on him. "I'm not a loser, so it's not fun. But like I said, it's an 82-game season, so hopefully something will stick."

The Kings weren't necessarily expected to be a playoff contender this season after going 22-60 in 2025-26, but even by their usual standards things are in a bad spot right now.

Sacramento's 1-10 record is tied for the worst 11-game start in franchise history. It previously happened during the 1990-91 season. That group did rebound enough to reach 25 wins by the end of the year.

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This Kings team hasn't really shown anything to suggest it can win 24 more games. They rank in the bottom five in both offensive and defensive rating. Seven of their 10 losses have been by at least 10 points.

Acuff has also been the subject of criticism because of how many shots he's taking on a nightly basis. His mark of 22.8 field-goal attempts per game is tied for third-most, behind only Anthony Edwards (26.0) and Luka Dončić (24.3).

Despite questions about the dynamic between Acuff and Domantas Sabonis, the two reportedly get along very well, with Sabonis enjoying playing with the rookie as he gets acclimated to the NBA.

The Kings used the No. 7 pick in the 2026 draft on Acuff with the idea he would become their new face of the franchise. His individual performance has been erratic, as is the case for rookies, but he is averaging 26.2 points and 7.3 assists per game through his first 11 starts.

Oscar Robertson is the only rookie in NBA history to average at least 25 points and seven assists per game.