Every team needs a guy who can hit the court in almost any situation and do what needs to be done. For the Sacramento Kings, that player is Precious Achiuwa. So far throughout the preseason, Achiuwa has proven to be key for the Kings, and he will be clutch as they push the rebuild.
A few games into the 2025-2025 season, Sacramento realized that they needed help on defense. This didn't come as a shock to literally anyone else, as this issue had been repeatedly called out. In an attempt to combat the problem, the Kings brought in Achiuwa, a respected veteran defender.
Sacramento still had a tough time on the defensive end of the court, but Achiuwa did make a difference. There was a noticeable improvement with him around. Plus, he gelled quickly with that season's group of rookies, Maxime Raynaud, Nique Clifford, and Dylan Cardwell.
Achiuwa ended up having a really good season, one of the best of his career. That's why the Kings signed him up for an additional two seasons. Based on what Achiuwa's shown off so far, that was the right call. As always, he's been an important part of the team, pitching in any way he can.
Putting Achiuwa to work on the Kings
The first game of the preseason was quiet for Achiuwa as he played less than 15 minutes. The focus of that outing was on some of the younger players, particularly Darius Acuff Jr. Sacramento ended up starting Achiuwa at power forward as both Ben Simmons and Keegan Murray were on rest.
Game two started out the same way, with Achiuwa opening the game at power forward. This time, he was in for more than 23 minutes, finishing with 18 points, five rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Achiuwa was shooting well. He went nine for 13 from the field with an average of 69.2%.
In game three, Achiuwa started at center. Both Domantas Sabonis and Cardwell were resting. Then, Raynaud got injured. All of that combined led to him playing 27+ minutes, collecting eight points, eight rebounds, and one assist along the way. Honestly, he's a bit more productive at power forward.
This is a microcosm of the level of versatility Achiuwa brings to the team. Once Sabonis, Simmons, and Murray are all back, Achiuwa will likely start playing off the bench again. But it has to be reassuring to the coaching staff to know that they have a backup the caliber of Achiuwa around.
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