Anyone who counts themselves as a fan of the Sacramento Kings is both dedicated and frustrated. Rookie point guard Acuff Jr. is seen as a key part of the team's path back to relevancy. That may be true, but fans need to make sure they give Acuff time to figure out the NBA and his place in it.
Acuff hasn't even played his first game in the league, and the expectations for him are high. He was an impressive college player, particularly on offense. And that is definitely an area the Kings need to work on. That being said, they're not great on defense, either. Really, it's a full top-down rebuild.
That's where Acuff comes in. On his own, he's a versatile and dynamic scorer who can finish at the hoop as well as having a killer jump shot. The man works the angles on the court to cut through the defense and create opportunities both for himself and everyone else.
While his scoring will be important for the Kings, what they really need from Acuff is his facilitation. When you combine his scoring gravity with his high-level passing and on-court vision, this is someone who can get the offense rolling. He just has to work out how to do it in the big leagues.
Acuff's transition to the NBA will require patience from everyone
The Summer League was the NBA's first look at Acuff post-college, and there were definitely a few issues. Naturally, his defense was lacking, but that was a well-known issue with his game before he was drafted. Acuff just wasn't on offensively, which was a bit more of a surprise.
Naturally, this led to some concerns from a variety of corners, including fans. That's more than fair, considering how many times Sactown faithful have been burned by their team. There's been a lot of hopes dashed in Sacramento over the years, and the fans are definitely sensitive to any issues.
This time is a bit different. Acuff is legit and has the potential to do big things for the Kings. The rebuilt, rebalanced team that is slowly taking shape seems well-suited to benefit from Acuff's style of play. All the fans need at this point is a little patience and to give him time to get there.
That being said, it's on the franchise to deliver as a whole. Acuff has what it takes to do great work for the Kings, but they also have to help him get there. If the Kings show the people of Sacramento they really have Acuff's back, that will show the fans that things are really changing.
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