After just seven regular-season games in their 2025-26 season, the Sacramento Kings elected to add some help via the free agent market. Surprisingly to many people, given his 20.5 minutes per game role with the New York Knicks last season, Precious Achiuwa was still without a team.

The 26-year-old forward agreed to a one-year deal with Sacramento, his fourth organization since being drafted 20th overall out of Memphis in the 2020 NBA Draft. With minimal time to adjust to his new surroundings, schemes, teammates, and coaches, he already had earned the starting spot by his third game.

The absence of Keegan Murray, who was dealing with a torn UCL at the time, left Kings’ head coach Doug Christie with a desperate need for forward help. Achiuwa’s 6’8″ frame, along with a roughly 6’2.5″ wingspan and impressive footwork on the perimiter filled their needs well.

While it’s been a disappointing year for the Kings as a whole, Achiuwa has proven that he belongs in an NBA rotation. He’s averaging career numbers with 9.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting an efficient 53.5 percent from the field. Converting 32.9 percent of his 1.2 three-point attempts per night has gone a long way as well.

Following the trade deadline, the organization made a clear transition to prioritizing the growth of its young talents. Achiuwa may not cross fans’ minds as someone who fits that, but he still has plenty of room to grow, as he has shown as of late.

Over the last 13 games, he’s tallied 16.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.2 blocks on 59.8 percent shooting, including 40.9 percent (9/22) from three. He’s reached double-digits in 10 of those appearances and surpassed 20 in five. Following Sunday’s 20 point, 11 rebound night, Achiuwa was asked if he would like to remain in California’s capital beyond this season. He didn’t hesitate in his repsonse.

“Absolutely, I love Sacramento,” he said. “The city has embraced me. The team has embraced me, the organization, from the front office to my teammates and the coaching staff. I truly, truly love being here, and I hope, and I would really love to be here. I hope, once the offseason comes around, we’ll be able to, you know, they will be willing to have me come back.”

It seems like Coach Christie plays a notable part in Achiuwa feeling that way as well. He mentioned Christie being just his second former NBA player running the show, with former Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway as his other experience.

“I mean, it’s been amazing (playing for Christie),” Achiuwa said. “It’s been great just to learn a lot from him… (Christie) cares so much on a personal level. And I’ve only had one coach before him, he’s not just everything basketball, basketball, you know, he actually cares about how you’re doing mentally, physically, family, all that type of stuff.”

“So, it’s amazing to be around someone like that, and of course, on the basketball court. So, especially as an ex-player, I learned a lot from him. The only other time I played for an ex-player was Penny Hardaway in college, and I learned a lot from Penny, and I had a lot of success playing under Penny, so I probably would say I have a lot of success playing for people that actually played the game, ex-NBA players.”

That seems to be the most common positive mentioned with Christie, his ability to connect with players and understand what they are going through. Nobody can question his love for the game of basketball, the city of Sacramento, or the players/coaches on his roster.

Just moments after Achiuwa spoke highly of him, the Kings’ head coach joked that he paid the forward to say those things before diving deeper into what he’s enjoyed about having him on the squad.

“He’s so coachable. He’s a pleasure as a coach because he’s listening. He wants to win. He’s about team, all the right things, and he wants to win,” Christie said. “So he’ll be upset, but then he lets it go, and the smiles back on his face. And every time I see him, he’s the same, and that’s an important thing for me, because I like the consistency of the human… our job can be stressful and all these different things, but just like as the person, part of it, like I got love for you, so don’t take anything personal, like I’m just coaching and that can get sideways. Sometimes it’s just how it is, but that’s nothing to do with you. So a lot of love for him to say that, because that is true. I care about these guys as people.”

Having been part of the best Sacramento team up to date, back in the early 2000’s, Christie viewed their off-court connection and brotherhood as essential to their success.

“My experience here, when we were really good, that was probably the one thread that helped everything, is because we had love for each other,” he continued. “And when you go out there, and you play that way, you play different… So it’s good to hear that from him, but love the kid. Love how he goes about his business. And another one, (it’s) truly an honor to coach these guys.”

It’ll be intriguing to see what Achiuwa gets offered on the open market this offseason and the direction that general manager Scott Perry elects to go. Assuming Murray and trade deadline addition De’Andre Hunter are healthy and available headed into next season, what would Achiuwa’s nightly opportunity look like? He’s also surely caught the attention of other teams around the league and has already proven he could help a postseason roster.

But his expressed desire to remain in Sacramento, even amidst their 18-51 season is a credit to Christie, Perry, and the fanbase. The organization’s number one focus headed into this season, as they repeatedly vocalized, was to create a culture. Achiuwa’s words make it seem like that is beginning to take shape, at least to an extent.

More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports

When is the next Sacramento Kings game?

The Sacramento Kings will face old friend De’Aaron Fox and the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night at Golden 1 Center.

San Antonio is 2-0 against the Kings this season, including a 139-122 win over Sacramento in the most recent meeting on February 21st.

Be sure to catch all of the Sacramento Kings vs. San Antonio Spurs action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage beginning at 5:30 PM PT on Game Night before a 7:00 pm PT tip-off from downtown Sacramento.

Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season

Tuesday, March 17th vs. San Antonio Spurs – 7:00 PM PT
Thursday, March 19th vs. Philadelphia 76ers – 7:00 PM PT
Sunday, March 22nd vs. Brooklyn Nets – 3:00 PM PT
Tuesday, March 24th – @ Charlotte Hornets – 4:00 PM PT
Thursday, March 26th – @ Orlando Magic – 4:00 PM PT

Thank you for reading SactownSports.com. Follow us on Twitter and Google News, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.