There's a group at the core of the current Sacramento Kings roster that refers to themselves as the Beam Boys. It's mostly rookies and veteran Precious Achiuwa. The Kings absolutely had to keep Achiuwa to maintain the vibe, but that decision also cost them the ability to keep Russell Westbrook.
Last season was not good for the Kings. It was historically bad for the franchise from a number of angles. If we're being honest, the situation is not likely to improve too much in 2026-2027. There's still a lot of work to do to turn this rebuild into long-term, sustained success.
That being said, there is still quite a bit to be excited about. For the past year, Scott Perry has made some great draft picks as well as making a few other solid moves. Unfortunately, the current payroll limits what he can do, but that will get easier with time and patience. The future is getting brighter.
A major part of that is the Beam Boys, a group of Kings that currently includes Nique Clifford, Dylan Cardwell, Maxime Raynaud, and the aforementioned Precious Achiuwa. By the end of last season, Daeqwon Plowden became part of the group. Their positivity is a driving force for the rebuild.
Achiuwa is a necessary part of this equation
Both Raynaud and Cardwell have spoken about how important Achiuwa is to the Beam Boys' dynamic. Their friendship and mutual respect with the veteran helped them find their NBA rhythm quickly. That's why re-signing him for two more seasons was so important for this overall process.
Dylan Cardwell and Maxime Raynaud spoke to @tristi_r14 about their wholesome relationship with fellow "Beam Boys" member Precious Achiuwa 🙌 https://t.co/RnQiLXD4Gm
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) July 23, 2026
The downside of keeping Achiuwa was losing Westbrook. Again, the payroll problems on the Kings are very real. They are at a point where they're right up against the first apron of penalties. Sacramento cannot afford that kind of heat, as it could completely hamstring the rebuild.
That meant a choice between Achiuwa and Westbrook. It's not that the Kings didn't see value in Brodie on their roster so much as it was more important to keep Achiuwa to maintain their Beam Boys core. This was one of those brutal sports business decisions where both choices are right and wrong.
In the long term, choosing Achiuwa will prove to be the correct decision. His connection with the rookies, combined with his defensive mindset and explosive offense, makes him a good fit. It will be interesting to see if he can continue that vibe with this season's incoming crop of rookies.
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