Fox Counsels Kings Rookie Acuff After Loss

Veteran De'Aaron Fox offered advice to rookie Darius Acuff Jr. following Sacramento's 124-109 defeat to San Antonio.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Basketball

Fox Counsels Kings Rookie Acuff After Loss

Former Kings guard De'Aaron Fox shared advice with rookie Darius Acuff Jr. in the Sacramento locker room after the Spurs defeated the Kings 124-109 on Friday. Fox, now with San Antonio, spoke to reporters in the visitors' locker room inside Golden 1 Center.

Why it matters

The exchange connects Sacramento's current rebuild to the franchise's recent past, as the Kings start the season 1-8 and lean on a rookie. Fox's guidance reflects the mentorship role veterans play as young players adjust to the NBA.

Acuff scored 22 points on 9-of-20 shooting against San Antonio and enters the week averaging 25.2 points and 7.1 assists through nine games. He ranks third in the NBA in field-goal attempts.

The players

De'Aaron Fox

Fox is a veteran point guard who was the No. 5 overall pick in 2017 and spent eight seasons with the Kings before joining the Spurs.

Darius Acuff Jr.

Acuff is a rookie guard who played one season at Arkansas under John Calipari before the Kings selected him seventh overall in 2026.

The details

Fox, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2017 draft, spent eight seasons in Sacramento before his February 2025 trade to San Antonio. He offered advice to Acuff, the seventh overall pick in the 2026 draft, in the Kings' locker room after the game.

Fox was traded to San Antonio in February 2025.
Acuff was drafted seventh overall in late June 2026.
The Spurs defeated the Kings 124-109 on Friday, November 6, 2026.

Season Trajectory

Sacramento's 1-8 start places pressure on a young roster to develop quickly, much as Fox did after his 2017 selection fifth overall. Veteran guidance from players who once wore the same uniform can shape how rookies handle the adjustment to professional scoring loads.

Acuff's scoring volume matters for fantasy rosters, given his 25.2-point average through nine games. Fans tracking the Kings' rotation should watch whether his shot selection shifts as the season progresses.

The takeaway

Young players often gain the most from veterans who have navigated the same franchise and draft-day expectations. Watching how Acuff responds to that guidance over the coming weeks will show whether it translates into improved efficiency.