Precious Achiuwa said the Sacramento Kings need to make Zach LaVine a priority early in games, a simple message that points to how Sacramento wants to open the season. With the Kings aiming for better health and better balance, Achiuwa made it clear the offensive flow should start with getting LaVine involved right away and getting Darius Acuff Jr. going as well.
“We got to get Zach going early in the game. That’s number one priority,” Achiuwa said ahead of Wednesday night’s season opener. He added, “We gotta get Darius going as well.”
The comments fit the broader outlook around Sacramento, which was hurt last season by significant injuries to Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis and LaVine. Those absences made it difficult for the Kings to establish consistent rhythm, and the expectation now is that a healthier group can change that early in the year.
Achiuwa’s role in that picture is notable because he has already shown he can produce when given expanded responsibility. Last season, after signing a veteran minimum deal with the Kings, he averaged a career-best 10.1 points per game and 6.7 rebounds. He also closed the year strongly, scoring a game-high 27 points against the Portland Trail Blazers in the final game of the season. In April, he averaged over 15 points per game for the second consecutive month.
A selfless fit for Sacramento
That production makes Achiuwa an interesting piece entering this season, but his own comments suggest he is comfortable taking a backseat offensively if it helps the Kings’ top scorers get rolling. “For me, I don’t really care offensively,” he said. “It’s just my job here is to make these guys better…”
That mindset lines up with how Doug Christie has described him. Christie said Achiuwa is “so coachable” and “a pleasure as a coach because he's listening,” adding that he “wants to win,” is “about the team,” and can move on quickly after frustration.
Achiuwa’s place in the rotation may also carry added importance in light of Ben Simmons’s season-ending Achilles injury, which is part of the current frontcourt context for the Kings. For Sacramento, the early-season challenge is less about forcing one player to do everything and more about getting the right pieces in the right places from the start.
That is why Achiuwa’s comments matter. If the Kings can get LaVine going early, get Darius Acuff Jr. involved and keep their key players healthy, they should have a better chance to avoid the issues that defined parts of last season.
